(Trinidad Express) Nationals currently stranded in the United Kingdom have written to National Security Minister, Stuart Young, requesting exemptions to be repatriated later this month.
A statement addressed to Young was posted on the Facebook group Everyttcitizenmatters on Friday. It asked for consideration on behalf of those stuck in the U.K. who have been offered flights to the Barbados on the 18 and 21 of July.
“We are sincerely appealing to the Minister for permission, to allow Caribbean Airlines to assist us on the same day transition to Trinidad or to simply allow British Airways to land in Trinidad, to have citizens return home. This proposal has already been sent to him and we anxiously await his response.”
“We are kindly asking the Honourable Minister to step up to his duty and to allow us, the opportunity to return home on these proposed flights and route with coordination and assurance form Caribbean Airlines, as the level of severity and difficulty for us to continue our stay and survive in the U.K. has become practically impossible now.”
According to the letter, requests by the group have been made since March, following the closure of the country’s borders. These requests, it said were ignored. In June, additional requests were accompanied by the flight proposals and the indication that nationals were willing to pay for state quarantine at the Cascadia Hotel. However, none were acknowledged.
As a result, it said that those outside of the borders questioned whether the Government has engaged in a “Diabolical game,” with those requesting return.
“The Minister of National Security, Mr. Stuart Young, continues to fool and brainwash the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, and play a diabolical game with the lives of the stranded citizens in the UK. Attempts were made to access possible charter and self-funding repatriation British Airways flights on the 5th & 6th of June 2020, one month ago, indicating our proposed route and logistics, and proposals were highlighted to self-fund our mandatory state quarantine promising to pay for all expenses and expendables at the Cascadia Hotel.”
“The Minister could not be contacted and after the date had passed, he denied us permission and exemptions. Both consulates were also aware of this proposal and were awaiting his final permission, which he refused to grant, on no meritorious ground and without reason and clarity,” said the letter.
Referring to Young’s previous statements concerning Caribbean islands being used as “a stepping stone to jump into Trinidad,” the letter states this response has been less than desirable.
“This statement, however, is impractical and magniloquent as it alludes to some degree of rhetoric fallacy to persons who have been away from their country for more than 6 months now. The mental stress of being stranded is by itself unimaginable to any person and contributes to the aggressiveness of our daily fight to return home. These inhumane statements translate into harsh realities that inform us that he does not care about his citizens and has no intention of repatriating stranded nationals in a timely manner.”
On Wednesday, Minister of Health, Terrance Deyalsingh refuted the claim that the Government was in a diabolical game of repatriation. He said that the Government understood the plight of those awaiting return. However, he added that all decisions taken concerning repatriation were based on the current healthcare capacity of the country.
“I Keep on reiterating. All these people who found themselves in this position did not ask for this. No one asked for this. COVID came, it is mother nature and we as a Government we must respond responsibly. The responsible response is to have a managed intake of our nationals abroad based on the quarantine facilities that we have so that they could be properly quarantined to protect their health and the health of their families when they eventually go home to them and the wider nation.’
“There is no diabolical game but I do understand how this could be interpreted as that. People are traumatized and we understand that. There are persons trapped around the world who cannot go home for the funeral of their parents. I know of one case in Trinidad and Tobago personally where somebody’s daughter died abroad and could not go to his daughter’s funeral,” said Deyalsingh