T&T Security Minister angry about hassle-free movement promises made to Jamaica

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, has reacted angrily towards promises on hassle-free movement made by his colleague Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran between that country and Jamaica.



He is claiming that Dookeran made commitments to Jamaica’s Foreign and Foreign Trade Minister Senator A.J. Nicholson without first consulting him.



In a report by the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, the Security Minister said he was not backing down on his decision to boot undesirables from other Caribbean countries out of the twin-island republic.



According to the report, Griffith is insisting that people who enter Trinidad and Tobago under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy programme continued to be a burden on the State and could further escalate the crime situation.



The report quoted him saying that Trinidad and Tobago is not a mall, where anyone will be allowed entry.



The Security Minister says another issue with illegal immigrants involve the heavy financial cost associated with deportation.



Griffith said for the last year, the Trinidad and Tobago Government had spent some $2.3 million on deporting illegal immigrants.



Following the end of a two-day meeting in Jamaica, Trinidad’s Foreign Affairs Minister said both countries addressed specific issues that would inform the agenda on immigrations matters.



Dookeran also revealed that a detailed set of recommendations were fleshed out during the two days of meetings.



The meeting was initiated by Jamaica following Trinidad’s deportation of 13 nationals last month.



FOR MORE STORIES WATCH

Like our new Facebook page:

Gleaner Jamaica



Follow us on Twitter:

@JamaicaGleaner



Email: onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com