‘Trinidad not much different from Guyana: hard there, hard here’-vendor

"I just felt to migrate,” she said.

I have seen this first hand. A very rich mand and his wife came to the US and worked very hard menial jobs for many years going through the ups and downs of trying to become permanent residents. In the end, after they have done all of that and became US residents, they packed up and went back to their comforts in Guyana. Some people do leave just for the sake of leaving. I do know some people who choose to live in Guyana because they are much better off there. I know at least three guys in Guyana who are richer than God and usually help out their US relatives financially.

One can use many indices of progress.

1.  Access to indoor plumbing.

2.  Cell phone usage.

3.  Access to internet

4.  Car ownership.

All of these will show that Guyanese are among the poorest people in the English  speaking Caribbean.  Guyanese know this.

But why will some one who is living illegally in a country think that life will be easy?

Trinidad is a whole different situation from the USA.  If Guyanese are fleeing to Trinidad, Suriname, Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts-Nevis, St Maarten, and Tortola its because life is bad in Guyana for them, and they desperately think that any where is better.

Guyanese remain in those islands, even as the economies have slowed, so clearly they don't feel confident a return to Guyana is a good idea.  Guyanese don't see other Caribbean countries as being anything other than other Caribbean countries.  They certainly don't under go the brainwashing that they might about the USA which they get from US media. What do Guyanese know about Nevis, and yet hundreds (maybe thousands) of them live there.

So spare us the narrative of wealthy and stupid people who abandon good lives in Guyana.  That is so "1980".  Guyanese are much more informed now.

This writer is off the deep end it is not about whether Trinidad or NY or Toronto is any bed of roses. Life is difficult everywhere, but Trinidad and these other countries at least have opportunities for the people to better themselves.

There is hope in TT, NY, TO etc. There is no hope in GY and that is demonstrated by the mass exodus. Cheddi used to bemoan brain drain under the PNC. He and his Lazy PPP are no better they have proven they are worse.

Redux mentioned the magic word "opportunities" and also the phrase "no hope". When you think about it, if you're a non-College educated rural citizen, an urban high-school educated person, or someone with an entrepreneurial ides but limited funds and limited capability to get start-up funding, you have to look at other countries to see how they afford you these opportunities.

As much as we love Guyana and want to see it do well and we acknowledge that we have educated and industrious citizens, we have to be honest and look at the structural impediments to "opportunities" in Guyana; and it starts with the political infrastructure and governance at both the national and local levels and you see why Guyanese flee to the Caribbean and North America in pursuit of such opportunities.

It's reality, as much as you love the current PPP (an unbelievable idea), believe ferociously that an alternative government will bring back banned items, lines, thugs, mo fiah, slow fiah (a ludicrous proposition), you have to say honestly, such hope and opportunity are lacking. The Revs, the Nehrus, the Yujis, the Basemen; and D-Gs would find it impossible to be as successful as they are in North America (yeah, I know Nehru in a drunken stupor in a Richmond Hill basement is not really successful ).

(Trinidad Express) A crackdown on illegal immigrants is coming in one month’s time. The Sunday Express learned a three-month immigrant amnesty is set to go into effect in November. The amnesty is aimed at allowing the 110,000 illegal immigrants to regularise their immigration status in Trinidad and Tobago. However, the Sunday Express learned when the amnesty ends in February, illegal immigrants will be immediately detained and deported to their respective countries if they are unable to produce the relevant immigration documentation. According to a release issued by the Ministry of National Security on October 13, some 110,012 illegal immigrants are living in T&T. The figure represents ten per cent of T&T’s 1.3 million population. The illegal immigrants, the release said, are from the following 16 countries: Guyana (25,884), Jamaica (19,500), Venezuela (10,574), St Vincent (9,606), Barbados (7,169), Grenada (6,947), Colombia (6,388), China (4,593) Philippines  (4,437), St Lucia (4,391), India (3,651), Dominican Republic (2,256), Suriname (1,944), Cuba (1,434), Nigeria (1,071) and Bangladesh (167).

Griffith: Get regularised or get out! The Sunday Express contacted Minister of National Security Gary Griffith yesterday seeking confirmation on the immigrant amnesty. He said: “Going forward, we are looking at the possibility of giving illegal immigrants a three-month grace period to get regularised with the necessary documentation. “The illegal immigrants will be given an application to justify that they are of value to the country and not a liability to the public or a national security threat. They must be value to the country because unemployment leads to a life of crime.” Not wanting to say the exact date the amnesty commences, Griffith said: “A release will be issued with the necessary information.” Griffith said employers will also be given an opportunity to vouch for illegal immigrants working for them who may be deemed undesirable. “This is not a witch hunt. If some illegal immigrants are deemed undesirable, which is considered a national security threat, once they have employers who can vouch for them showing that they add value to an establishment, strong consideration will be given to allow them to stay in T&T,” Griffith said. Advising the illegal immigrants to grasp the amnesty, Griffith warned that excuses would not be accepted. “After the three-month period, I am going to start cleaning house because this situation has gone on for far too long. At this point, they are all breaking the law because they are in T&T illegally. “It is either they make use of the three-month grace period or leave T&T. We are not going on a witch hunt in every community or business; we are giving them the opportunity to come forward and get regularised. “Whether the illegal immigrants are housekeepers or security personnel, they all need to get proper documentation to be allowed to stay in T&T or else they will be deported.”

Relationship between illegal immigrants and crime

Griffith said he is forced to implement the amnesty because of security intelligence he received. He said between 2003 and 2004, there was an influx of illegal immigrants into T&T. “I don’t know if it is coincidental, or if it is a serious relationship, but that is the main period when we started seeing an escalation in serious crimes in T&T. “There may be a relationship between illegal immigrants and the escalating crime situation. We have security intelligence that shows illegal immigrants have been involved in illegal activities and other gang-related activities. “It is no longer a case of illegal immigrants coming to T&T to work only. Some of these illegal immigrants are actually coming to T&T to become professional crimi­nals,” Griffith said. Griffith, however, acknowledged some of the illegal immigrants came to T&T to seek a better life. “I also have knowledge that there are many illegal immigrants who have some value to the societ­y. “Some of them are being taken advantage of by their employers who have refused to pay the neces­sary taxes because they are aware of their illegal status. “These individuals are here illegally and they don’t have the capability to go to a union or to protest. Sometimes they are short-paid their wages, or receive none at all. “It is a very untidy situation. In addition, millions of dollars are being lost in revenue because no taxes are being paid. It is time to get control of the situation,” Griffit­h said.

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...-for-illegals-in-tt/

illegal immigrants will be immediately detained and deported to their respective countries if they are unable to produce the relevant immigration documentation.

Mits, Nehru will come back and say that there are no (CARICOM) illegals in Trinidad. HEe will then chastise you in public for not knowing about the CARICOM treaty.

Kari, of the 16 countries listed, only 6 belongs to Caricom.

T&T has 25,884 Guyanese illegals

(Trinidad Express) Oil- and gas-rich Trinidad and Tobago remains a land of opportunity and currently serves as a haven for 110,012 illegal immigrants.

“You are talking about over ten per cent of your adult population,” National Security Minister Gary Griffith said following the National Security Ministry’s release of the “alarming statistics” yesterday.

Asked if there had been an increase in the number of illegal immigrants in recent years, Griffith said the problem did not start overnight.

“It is just that I am opening this Pandora’s box. And I intend to put an end to it. It is totally unacceptable,” he said.

This disturbingly high number of illegal immigrants comes primarily from 16 countries, of which only six are members of Caricom.

The highest number of illegal immigrants comes from Guyana—25,884; followed by Jamaica.

There are 19,500 Jamaicans living here illegally, while Venezuela has 10,574 illegal immigrants residing here. Next in line are people from St Vincent—9,606; Barbadians—7,169; Grenadians—6,947; Colombians—6,388; Chinese—4,593; Filipinos—4,437; St Lucians—4,391; Indians—3,651; Dominican Republic—2,256; Surinamese—1,944; Cubans—1,434; Nigerians—1,071; and Bangladeshis—167.

Griffith said he was not on a “witch hunt”.

But, he said he had met a very “untidy situation” and he intended to deal with all aspects of national security.

He said once Immigration officials are able to locate people, they are deported back to their country.

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...tories/10/15/308090/

You see that Guyanese and Jamaican nationals who are from memeber countries of CARICOM are considered illegals. According to Nehru No Guyanese should beillegal in Trinidad. Guyanese shoul;d be free to live nad work in Trinidad because of CARICOM.

That Nehru bhai got a PhD in Treaties.

Kari I will add to your point that the PPP has no new ideas every day they are drudging up some failed project that Forbes had on deck putting a lil spin on it and wham they have a new headline in the papers.

The fact is as you have stated the only strategy the PPP has is driving fear and hatred into the hearts of the poor and the illiterate. The problem they have however is that this strategy is losing bite especially as the mixed race population continues to expand rapidly. 

The PPP no longer is credible just look at their strategies the Johnny Welshman strategy it wreaks of desperation. The delay of parliament, more desperation.

The PPP no longer has anything attractive for the people of Guyana to vote for and to say that the PNC will bring back lines and ban food is complete bullshit. 

The PPP has no new ideas they are thieving conmen who have no new ideas.