CasandraThompson-Forbes
There will be some economic benefits to be derived by employing Venezuelans in this country says Acting Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds.
He was speaking to reporters in Tobago following his visit at the Caroline Building registration centre on Friday. Minister Hinds, Glenda Jennings-Smith and THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles visited the centre and reported that the process ran smoothly and efficiently.
Commenting on a question that Venezuelan immigrants might be displacing nationals when it comes to gainful employment, he said while the country has a four per cent unemployment rate, 96 per cent were gainfully employed and many locals have been passing on available jobs
"I am sure they would easily agree that there is a lot of work to be done here in Tobago and there are people who would pass by that work every day but wouldn't touch it and if the Venezuelans are here and they are willing to do some of the work in Tobago and in Trinidad that Trinidadians and Tobagonians have not been doing, then as the economists have begun to understand, there will be some benefits in that regard as to their presence, because there is work to be done.
"We have not seen and we do not anticipate that the Venezuelans would he displacing Tobagonians or Trinidadians and you will agree with me that there is work to be done and we have been passing the work for one reason or the next and others in their circumstances are willing to do it," he said.
Hinds is also urging business owners to do right by the immigrants, which includes paying them nothing under minimum wage and allowing them to make National Insurance contributions.
"This process allows them to do that work and NIS must be paid on their behalf, I seem to recall and, of course, they must not be paid less than minimum wage, once they are properly registered and if you agree with me that they are not displacing Tobagonians and Trinidadians from their jobs, and if you agree with me that is just speculatory Trinidadian/ Tobagonian talk, then there is no issue" he said
Up to closing time at 5 pm under 30 Venezuelans visited the Tobago Centre, while only 12 completed the process.