Inside The Sunshine June 2
The new immigration law championed by Stuart Young goes into effect today—fingerprinting and background checks at 3 registration stations in Port of Spain, San Fernando (down sout’), and sparsely-staffed Scarborough, Tobago. Spanish translators have been asked to volunteer, and several teachers at school are answering the call, as there are potentially 60,000 Venezuelan refugees to be processed. The plan is to offer one-year blanket amnesty, barring anyone with a felony record, plus a permit to work. This guarantees the problem will be pushed into the next administration.
As codependent neighbors, Vene-Trini is a Mexico-US predicament, of a smaller scale but far greater urgency, as much of Venezuela is literally starving to be here. Free breakfasts and lunches are provided for the 700 paperless people that arrive at the San Fernando station on the first day. These first arrivals are brave people indeed, as rumors abound that the old law of prompt deportation is still in effect. The TT Guardian posts a headline from Chief of Police Gary Griffith: “This Is No Trap!”
The first day of registration is a mess, as expected. The on-line system has crashed, requiring paper substitutes, but these are not available in Spanish. Due to a lack of translators at the Port of Spain station at the Queen’s Park Oval, Maria Perez tries to find taxi drivers to help her decipher the forms, only to learn that she will have to return another day. She, and everyone else, is expected to show proof she is indeed Venezuelan. This amnesty offer ends in 14 days. After that, she will find herself, according to Chief Griffith, as “being outside the sunshine.“
Juliana and Rebecca woke up early to volunteer their language services at the Oval but are summarily sent away—their names are not on the penciled list. Juli hears from a “slightly racist“ hairdresser that the inefficiencies and obstacles are deliberate, to depress compliance with the law—but to what end? Sparing beleaguered hospitals and schools? Quien Sabe? Amnesty International is monitoring the process closely, as is the military and press. The Coast Guard is charged with turning boats around, in violation of international law.
Meanwhile, a plane with 80 people leaving Piarco Airport for Caracas explodes after take-off but manages to return safely with only minor injuries. The official cause at this time is listed as “engine failure,“ but this does not explain the crater blown out of the luggage compartment. No one mentions the possibility of a bomb, but fuses seem obvious everywhere.
By afternoon, San Fernando runs out of paper registration forms. Attempts to print more copies fail because all of the copy stores are still closed for the India Arrival Day. My stalwart friend Ferdy—who is half Indian, half Venezuelan, and 100% Trini—thinks Venezuela Arrival Day might be the perfect Trini solution to the immigration crisis. A 14th national holiday would give a proper salute to the kindred spirits of Parang. The recognition may serve to slice a diminishing pie into smaller pieces, to make a better whole and more perfect union.
“And delicious beef pastelles! Viva Vene-Trini!“ dice Fredo.