By Sue-Ann Wayow
ANOTHER repatriation exercise was conducted on Friday afternoon involving 38 Venezuelans.
The Ministry of National Security in a press release on Saturday stated that in keeping with established protocols, between the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) and its Venezuelan counterparts, the exercise was completed at the border between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
The exercise consisted of Venezuelan nationals who had entered Trinidad and Tobago illegally over a period of time.
All persons were screened by competent authorities of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as by representatives of the Venezuelan embassy to ensure, among other things, that there were no victims of human trafficking amongst them.
Cooperation between the Venezuelan authorities, both civil and military, was maintained throughout this exercise. This was to ensure the preservation of the safety and security of the nationals of both nations, the ministry stated.
The ministry added that the TTCG was again the main operational unit in the exercise, and ensured that all of its efforts were in keeping with the highest standards of professional conduct, consistent with the government’s policy and the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
On Friday morning, 35 Venezuelan nationals were sent back home who had illegally entered the country on February 6.
