RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Two Venezuelan children aged 14 and 15, who were detained by police since Saturday, are expected to spend New Year's Day in police custody. The children are in the custody of the Child Protection Unit.
A senior official who has been investigating the children's plight said she was unable to lend assistance through the International Office of Migration and the Living Water Community. She said the public seems desensitised to the plight of unaccompanied minors, elders, and pregnant women who fled the socio-economic crisis in Venezuelan, seeking refugee status in T&T.
She said while many Venezuelans have found jobs in T&T, these were the strongest and most capable.
"There are many vulnerable children, the elderly and people with illnesses who are detained and they are suffering. We need to be more sensitive to those who are seeking asylum," she said.
"It is well documented that under the international regime and the international community we are supposed to treat asylum seekers as an exception to immigration law. We need to be sensitive because they are not all the same."
The official also said detention must be humanitarian. She noted that two attorneys went to the Oropouche Police station to speak to the children but they were not allowed to see them. Saying the children were traumatised over the detention, the official called on the police to show sensitivity to the undocumented Venezuelans. "Even if they cannot show you the documents immediately, allow them time because their application for asylum has been filed," she added.
A police officer said even though the children are in police custody, they are not imprisoned. He said the CPU provides special accommodation and meals for the detainees.
Under current laws, refugees are not protected by local law.
Last month, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said T&T cannot afford to put systems in place at this time to deal with refugees and asylum seekers.
T&T has signed the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees and its 1967 protocol but is still yet to ratify them and therefore refugees and asylum seekers are not protected by local law.
For international law to become local law, Al-Rawi said there must be a dualistic system of law "where you have to bring the international law into the Parliament and then clothe it in local legislation". He said this was an important discussion for the new year.