SSP Diaries | Repatriation of ISIS fighters and families

Between 2013 and 2016, some 130 Trinidadian nationals, men and women, travelled to Syria to join ISIS in their fight to establish an Islamic State. Trinidad was the largest contributing nation, on a per capita basis, in the Western Hemisphere. At least 30 men were known to be killed. During the period, families increased and today there are some 56 children and over 90 Trinidadian nationals being held under deplorable conditions in specific camps, while the unrest in Syria continues and the Caribbean looks on.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister, Dr Amery Browne, said recently that, ‘the government is open to offers to return families of local men who went to fight in Syria ... (however) such repatriation could not be done overnight’. He claimed that there are national security issues to be considered. This is understandable yet obvious. The question is why has it taken so long to address the matter of the repatriation and reintegration of one’s own citizens to their home country? The minister reportedly also said that the country is open to partnerships and collaboration with national and international partners and there is a willingness to engage the USA on this issue. (Douglas S, No Overnight Return of Families from Syria, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, February 2023). T&T is wishing the problem would somehow go away.

The USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany and a host of other countries in the northern hemisphere have been repatriating their nationals, in what seems to be a concerted effort, ever since September/October 2022. Once such a movement had started, it should have signalled to the Caribbean that it was only a matter of time before pressure would be brought to bear on developing countries to follow suit. This pressure is now being applied by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW). Some 36 countries have begun repatriations. In the Caribbean this includes three Barbadians and there is still no indication of T&T doing anything except ‘beating around the bush’.

This is by no means an easy decision for a country, and even the developed states deliberated over their actions for a considerable time. For those that have legislative provisions in place to deal effectively with terrorism, one can only imagine that they spent time gathering evidence for prosecutions and fine-tuning the processes needed for reintegrating their nationals back into society. Despite recent announcements by its prime minister, T&T is still dragging its feet. Repatriation is inevitable, they need a more decisive approach. The way the HRW perceives the issue today is that Trinidadians took the lead in supporting ISIS, so they should now take the lead in repatriating their nationals.

Children and mothers followed husbands blindly into something they never expected. Many were led to believe that they were heading for a better life based on their faith, and not a war on humanity being waged by Islamic jihadists devoted to extreme violence. Interestingly, in all of this I always felt that T&T could not be the only Caribbean nation involved. Now that I have learnt of Barbados, it’s not surprising but I am still waiting to hear of Jamaicans. It would be highly unusual if there were none!

Nations have a responsibility to their people. According to the relevant UN Resolution, a person cannot at any time be stateless, he/she must belong somewhere. That is my understanding. Nations must therefore live up to their responsibilities. It is not beyond the Caribbean to make sure that we put the necessary things in place to repatriate our misguided populations and see to their rehabilitation, especially children. Where there are no legislative provisions to effect prosecutions, then accept our flaws and move quickly to protect the future. Accept that it is our fault that we never moved swiftly enough to properly protect ourselves, despite warnings. Where there is need for assistance, reach out, cease procrastinating, deal with the issues and let us not embarrass ourselves on the world stage.

SSP Diaries Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com