Drones to help survey the coastline, a maritime police unit and upcoming checks within the police force for culprits who may be aiding illegal migrants and trafficking. That's the latest part of a local "lockdown" plan following the end of Government's two-week Venezuelan amnesty registration.
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith yesterday confirmed the aspects primarily involving the police.
Registration ended around 1.45 am yesterday. An overflow of applicants in Tobago was processed yesterday. Approximately 15,000 people registered according to preliminary figures. From here on, visas will be needed for Venezuelans to enter T&T.
Ahead of the end of registration last Friday, Coast Guard sources said maritime operations had been expanding in the South-west, Toco/north coast, and Gulf of Paria to secure borders following the influx of vessels bringing Venezuelans illegally to be registered.
They said the Coast Guard has been stopping boats since the start of the year, but had noted an increase in vessels bringing Venezuelans to T&T following announcement of the amnesty. "We used to see one or two daily, but after the amnesty was announced, there was an average of 20 pirogues daily, four to five days."
They said the Coast Guard stopped an average of 99 per cent of the vessels. "It's safe to say the 15,000 figure given for registrants recently could have been higher if vigilance hadn't been exercised."
They noted the recent social media picture of the Coast Guard halting a pirogue with 43 Venezuelans who arrived Wednesday and were turned back. They said the increased thrust will see the Coast Guard patrolling "24/7...right through".
Where land including the coastline is concerned, CoP Griffith said he was reactivating a Police Coastal Unit to do sea patrols closer to land particularly in the South-west
"This will complement the Coast Guard's deep-sea work. We also have a lot of land patrols around the South-west, Central, Chaguaramas, and North coast."
Griffith is also placing a priority on air units including acquiring drones to assist coastal survey.
"Apart from being an economic measure, drones are suited to overt/covert surveys. They can lock onto vessels. They require less maintenance and manpower and are well suited to current border security needs."
He said systems will also be reinforced to deal with any police who may be aiding/abetting moves to bring in illegal migrants, illegal weapons and trafficking. Drug and polygraph testing in the South-west Division police ranks will be done within the coming weeks to verify any individuals involved in issues.
"Interviews from the Venezuelan registration yielded much information on who, how, where, when and other aspects of how people were entering T&T illegally, including how much they were charged. We'll work with Venezuelan and other authorities to track data since people in Venezuela as well as T&T were listed."
The Carli Bay Fishing Association (CBFA) has sought Griffith's assistance after members noted pirogues bringing in Venezuelans two weeks ago.
CBFA's Imtiaz Khan said another pirogue arrived subsequently. He said police have been patrolling areas. "Our engines and boats are also being stolen. We're only five miles off Venezuela,"
In Moruga, another landing point for Venezuelans, Princes Town Corporation municipal police and TTPS officers were checking sites yesterday where Venezuelans were known to use.
Corporation chairman Gowrie Roopnarine said he was receiving police support to supplement municipal patrols. "Entry points range from Marac, L'Anse Mitan to La Lune. So we'd also like Coast Guard assistance. A lot of focus is on Cedros etc, but Moruga has over 3,000 Venezuelans from all counts. We got reports three weeks ago people were sleeping in boats in one area and we had to deal with that."
L'Anse Mitan councillor Joseph Lorant who accompanied police on checks yesterday, said, "I spoke with police last Friday on security checks which they routinely assist with. We have to look at areas including Grand Chemin, Basseterre, etc."
Sangre Grande corporation chairman Terry Rondon confirmed patrols by soldiers and police were increased last weekend ahead of registration's end. The North-east coast was being used by Venezuelans seeking alternative routes.
Rondon told Guardian Media, "We have a lot of soldiers in Toco, Matelot, Matura, and Cumana areas. Patrols have been visibly increased on coastlines particularly. Security forces are driving along beaches and if they see anything at sea, they get fishermen to carry them out to see what it is. We've also had Coast Guard vessels around."
PNM Point Fortin MP Edmund Dillon said Icacos, Fullerton, Bonasse, Los Iros, Quinam, Granville plus Cap de Ville and other points are also on the security system's radar. La Brea officials said army/police patrols extend to the "bush" now since Venezuelans were found in the forest recently.
Visas won't help stop illegals—Opposition
UNC Princes Town MP Barry Padarath and certain other Opposition MPs, however, feel Government's recently-announced visa stipulation may not be as effective as expected and illegal arrivals may continue.
"This should have been done two years ago when Venezuelans started entering T&T. But they'll simply continue coming in through the little beaches and quiet spots they've now become familiar with via which they can elude Coast Guard vessels on the seas. "
Padarath said the Opposition had continued to hear unconfirmed reports of boats coming in up to Thursday. UNC Mayaro MP Rushton Paray was also sceptical about visas effectiveness.