Attorney Nafeesa Mohammed is calling for a more active relationship between T&T and the Saudi Arabia to facilitate local Muslims seeking visas for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Mohammed is the spokesperson for the families of five men, Wade Charles, Dominic Pitilal, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley, who were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and have been incarcerated in Venezuela since 2014. During last week’s visit by Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley confirmed that they had agreed “to repatriate our citizens who are currently in detention on both sides.”
Mohammed said she has not heard anything from the Government since that meeting but believes there will be follow up discussions this week.
“Part of the problem with the Hajj visa is that there is a need to regularise the relationship with the Saudi government at a diplomatic level. Recommendations were made to all stakeholders involved and I am hoping and praying that the Government will be able to engage in a more meaningful dialogue and anything can be done to expedite the problem.
“Our arrangement with the Saudis need to be revisited and they need for a more decisive interaction with them and our Government,” she said.
Mohammed said since 2014 there were attempts to regularise diplomatic relations with the Saudi government and T&T..
She said another month of Ramadan has begun and the families of the five men continue to endure the hardship of their absence.
Referring to Tariq Mohammed, who has been in a Saudi Arabian prison since last year, Mohammed said that he was not a threat.
Mohammed said: “He was taking his last year at the University of Medina in Saudi Arabia when he was detained for questioning. “The Ministry of National Security did a clearance letter and they did all the checks and he (Tariq) was not involved with illegal activities. This was cleared here. We are requesting a meeting to see what is going on and what is happening.”