Detention centre opens in Aripo. Joseph: Illegal immigrants to be kept until sent back home.
Trinidad & Tobago Express | Thursday, November 12th 2009
ILLEGAL immigrants, beware.
This country’s first Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) was formally opened along the Eastern Main Road in Aripo, Arima, yesterday.
The establishment of the IDC is a significant step in the Government’s thrust to effectively arrest this country’s growing illegal immigration problem, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said during the ceremony.
While delivering yesterday’s feature address, Joseph said, ’Strengthening the nation’s capacity to detain illegal immigrants and other aliens subjected to deportation is a key component of the comprehensive strategy to deter illegal immigration into Trinidad and Tobago.’
’Illegal immigration can be defined as migration across national borders in violation of a country’s immigration laws. Persons found culpable of such acts are defined as prohibited immigrants,’ Joseph explained.
There are currently some 215 foreign nationals detained in prisons across this country, he said. Seventy-three of them are prohibited immigrants.
Prior to the establishment of the IDC, located on the former site of the Social Development Ministry’s Aripo Remand Building, prohibited immigrants were detained at the Maximum Security Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca.
’While this short-term measure was not in keeping with international best practice, the maximum-security prison as the nation’s most modern correctional facility was the best option available,’ Joseph said.
The IDC has the capacity to house 150 detainees, both male and female, and will be under the stewardship of the Immigration Division.
’It would only be operated as a means for short-term detention of non-nationals and will not be facilitated as a prison or correctional facility. The long-term aim is to ensure that these migrants can be successfully repatriated to their respective countries after due process,’ Joseph said.
Retirees from the prisons and police service, as well as immigration officers, make up the IDC staff. The first batch of detainees are expected to arrive at the IDC today, and within the next two weeks, the entire transition from the MSP will be completed, Joseph said. -JJ
6 comments
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February 22, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Melissa
I think u ppl in trinidad is over do it wit Guyanese ppl in y’all country de way u treat dem is so unbeliveable n we work more hard dan y’all in y’all country dat y ppl dose want us there n suppose y’all carvial
February 22, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Melissa
Yes dey IDC is better but i think they hav ppl like dem is murders in dat place y dem can’t wear dem own clothes dem dress like dem is prisoners there n i think dem should’ve a phone of dem own to keep in touch wit dem love ones. I visted ppl there n dem told wat y’all dose be doin n i promise to high light it. Ppl hav kids out there dat yall hav in there n dem family want to buy dem ticket for dem to go home n u ppl jus hav dem there 4 no reason
February 22, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Melissa
I know of a husband n wife dat live there 4 more dan 6 years with dem children dat u ppl hav there 4 assault charge that a trinidad woman worng n but dem is guyanese y’all treatin dem like shit cause the woman payin the police dem at the chaguanas police station 2 keep dem there everytime dem showup 4 dem court day is alway put off because the woman said dat she will let dem n they kids sufer but there is a god.
February 22, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Melissa
Assault charge agains a man and his woman that is in that IDC there in trinidad that i find was so worng only because we r guyanese ppl. This trinidad woman till were these people at to start a fight because her husband open up a store for a guyanese woman n had her workin 4 him she come n acttack the guyanese woman she n her family it turn out to be a fight between the guyanese woman sister n the trindad woman. Happen so sister make a report at the chaguanas police station. 3 day before Xmas the chaguanas police that take pay run in on the guyanese people jumpin gate like them lookin for crimals and aressted them leavin dem kid age 10 and 8 year old alone in the house. Went the court day came up the sister report can’t be found tell me is dat not rass how y’all eyes pass we guyanese ppl. Everytime is dem court day dem case keep gettin put off n dem kids all ppl not family. Were is the love for our guyanese people in trinidad????
February 23, 2012 at 3:28 pm
triniwarao
Melissa,
Thanks for your comments and for keeping your promise to highlight what you have witnessed. Have you read this article, “IDC detainees cry inhumane treatment.” by Richard Ramoutar? Being an immigrant even when you are legal can be difficult, but when you are an illegal immigrant, you are extremely vulnerable to all sorts of abuses. Very often the abuses are not reported by the “illegals” who feel compelled to suffer in silence because to complain would mean disclosing their status to the authorities. However, it is hoped that if authorities accountable to the public are found guilty of inhumane treatment while “processing” these persons, that these violations will be exposed and promptly addressed and terminated. I hope that serious efforts are made to find a way to welcome more Caribbean workers even if on temporary work visas. Their industriousness is acknowledged and apparently work is available, or else they would not be pulled here.
Melissa, feel free to continue to share your opinions on this issue.
Peace
March 23, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Katy Boyan
I had an unfortunate opportunity to visit a love one at IDC in Aripo,who was held for an breach of immigration law.However,it was immigration Office who was responsible for all this chaos been done to an innocence young man.he is still held there for an indefinite period of time. without information as to what will be the outcome of the situation.
These Officers look at all Caricom Nationals (especially Guyanese) as though they are from the last part of Afghanistan or something, taking a Lawyer is beneficial in helping you in court if found guilty and is been charged, but takes forever for the immigration Officer to complete investigation to be done.People are punishing there, they don’t give a damn. It has about 26 men in 1 cell some asleep on COLD CONCRETE FLOORS is that the way Trinidad suppose to treat other Nationals. They have the audacity to talk about C.S.M.E. there are people in IDC for months on end.
As a legal migrant when you speak they look at you as though you are illegal. But believe you me they are so many Trinidadians in Canada,U.S.A and England that can’t even return because they are illegal.And they still treating persons as Dogs. SHAME ON THE TRINIDAD &TOBAGO IMMIGRATION LAWS. Only country that has this stiff an immigration penalty is Italy up to 6 months detention and a fine of 5 to 10,000 pounds.
It really and truly seems as though is the eye pass of the Caribbean.