TRINIDAD and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has slammed President Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro for singlehandedly triggering and fueling the situation in Venezuela.
In a strongly-worded statement on illegal Venezuelan immigration on Wednesday, Dr Rowley said, “The OAS under its misguided President Almagro has been almost singlehandedly responsible for triggering and fueling the current Venezuelan situation and these public officials have virtually declared war on Trinidad and Tobago for having the temerity to have not joined (US Envoy for Iran) Eliot Abrams and President (Donald) Trump in forcing violent regime change in Venezuela.”
He said T&T was under the “latest assault, using nameless faceless people armed with innocent children, to try and force us to accept their understanding of ‘refugee status and international treaty’ where a little island nation of 1.3 million people must be expected to maintain open borders to a next door neighbour of 34 million people even during a pandemic.”
Dr Rowley stated that this was a matter for the people of T&T and not the OAS.
He said T&T borders were currently closed even to our its own citizens in this pandemic.
Dr Rowley said he “would resist all efforts by others who are hell bent on forcing open our borders through illegal immigration.”
He said, “Under the rubric of ‘humanitarian’ this interpretation, if accepted, will effectively prise open our borders to every economic migrant, gun runner, drug dealer, human trafficker and South American gang leader/members.
“All they will be required to do is make the seven mile boat trip and claim to be ‘refugees.’”
Noting that T&T staunchly supported the work of the United Nations, “but this threat and the persistent disregard for the outstanding humanitarian efforts extended by the people of T&T, do not conform with the spirit and purpose of the UNHCR.”
He said the “little island nation of T&T facilitated the registration of 16,000 Venezuelan migrants, “even as we ourselves are struggling to cope with our own difficulties we have afforded them comfort, aid and opportunity.”
Dr Rowley said, “If after all that, our nation’s image is to be tarnished through the facilitation of illegal penetration of our borders then certainly, that will be the unkindest cut of all.
“I call on all the people of T&T to continue to be the humane and caring people that we have demonstrated that we are, as we do not demonize our migrant neighbors but we all continue to be protected by the laws of T&T.”
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Rowley: Las Fronteras De T&T Podría Ser Considerado Abierto Para Permitir La Trata De Personas
El primer ministro de TRINIDAD y Tobago, el Dr Keith Rowley, criticó el presidente de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), Luis Almagro, por desencadenar y alimentar la situación en Venezuela.
En una declaración enérgica sobre la inmigración ilegal venezolana el miércoles, el Dr. Rowley dijo: “La OEA, bajo su mal informado presidente Almagro, ha sido responsable casi por sí sola de desencadenar y alimentar la actual situación venezolana y estos funcionarios públicos prácticamente han declarado la guerra a Trinidad y Tobago. por tener la temeridad de no haberse unido (al enviado de Estados Unidos para Irán) Eliot Abrams y al Presidente (Donald) Trump para forzar un cambio de régimen violento en Venezuela.”
