Trinidad and Tobago is struggling to cope with the continuing influx of Venezuelan migrants, thousands of whom are making dangerous boat crossings to flee their country.
Dozens of children have drowned in trying to cross the treacherous seven-mile journey. The proximity of the coasts of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago motivates many parents to take such a risk without considering the dangerous natural and climatic conditions of the area.
UNICEF has requested reports from the government of the islands on the situation of children and teenagers, both on journeys and on entry and “settlement” in the country. The National Assembly of Venezuela has demanded that the Trinidadian government address the ill-treatment directed at Venezuelans who arrive there. The Assembly has also questioned the scant coverage given to the issue in the regional media.
In March of this year, more than 600 passports were issued by the Venezuelan government to help return compatriots who had lived through an ordeal in the Caribbean islands.
According to the UN, 78,849 immigrants live in Trinidad and Tobago, representing 5.19 percent of the 1.4 million population. Around half that total is thought to be Venezuelans, around 40,000, who are fleeing from poverty, crime and widespread corruption. It has led to immense anti-Venezuelan feeling in Trinidad. The female migration that arrives in the country is much higher than the male migration. Numerous cases of sexual assault and harassment has been reported.
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