UN resident coordinator for T&T Richard Blewitt says he is working closely with T&T to address refugee challenges, noting access to the basic services needed to support a life with dignity remains a challenge for many asylum-seekers in the country.
Blewitt’s comments yesterday came two days after eight Cubans, who are seeking asylum in the United States through the UN in T&T, were arrested by police at Chancery Lane, Port-of-Spain, for loitering after they began living on the street. Three children with them were also put in the care of the Child Protection Unit.
The Cubans, who appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on Thursday, will spend Christmas in jail as they have been remanded in custody and will re-appear in court on January 8.
In a press release, however, Blewitt said T&T’s position as a leader in the Caribbean has been demonstrated through its commitment to creating a system of refugee protection.
The UN, Blewitt said, has recognised T&T’s commitment in its creation of the Refugee Policy in 2014, which was the first step toward the development of a national asylum system. The policy sets out a three-phased process to develop a national asylum system, which, in its implementation, will acknowledge and support basic human rights of asylum seekers and recognise refugees as indicated in the UN Refugee Convention.
Although the Government, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is progressing with the implementation of the policy, Blewitt said such basic services needed “to support a life with dignity remains a challenge for many asylum-seekers in T&T.” He admitted that the UN has recognised the frustration at the limited range of solutions available to refugees and asylum-seekers that have been expressed in the demonstration outside the UN House during the past several months.
“Accordingly, legislation must also be introduced that would codify the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, establish their legal status and clarify the options available to them,” Blewitt pointed out.
Such implementation of an asylum-system and its supporting legislation will provide opportunities for refugees to integrate and contribute productively to T&T’s society through the provision of legal documentation and access to work, education and health services, Blewitt said.
Until the necessary legislation is passed, Blewitt said the UNHCR will continue to work with its partners and the Government to develop interim solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers here, as the Caribbean is not immune to the refugee crisis occurring in the rest of the world.