If we address the situation of educating Venezuelan children properly, it can be a game changer for this country in the future, and a win-win for all involved, Roman Catholic Archbishop Jason Gordon has said.
“We know there are Venezuelan children living in Trinidad and Tobago. They have a human right to be educated. With the number of migrants who have come, I imagine there are experienced teachers amongst them,” Gordon said.
“What if we accept Venezuelan children in our schools and hire migrant Venezuelan teachers to teach them? What if we turn some classrooms bilingual, with children being instructed in Spanish and English? To have a generation of bilingual children in our country will be a game changer in 20 years’ time,” he said.
“It will assist us to pivot to the south, to Latin America, in a most natural way. Better than bilingual street signs will be bilingual citizens who are at home in the language and culture of Latin America,” Gordon said.
Gordon made the statement in this weeks column in the Catholic News titled ‘Vene’ crisis: What do you see?
While the Government has allowed registered Venezuelan migrants to work and access healthcare here for a year, no plans have been put in place to educate their children.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he would not stop the Roman Catholic Church from assisting in that regard.
Gordon said this country cannot integrate the Venezuelan migrants into population by just fitting them into existing industries and jobs.
“This is a time to kick-start our economy by beginning new initiatives that utilise the skills of those who have come and create alternative industries,” Gordon said.
As such Gordon said he believes the Venezuelan migrants can help kick-start this country’s agricultural industry.
“Food security is a major topic at the World Urban Forum. Many countries have deep analyses and policies governing food security. If there is a shortage, each nation needs to ensure they can feed themselves and export,” he said.
“We have a lot of good agricultural land. There are many farmers who have come from Venezuela. Can we use this opportunity to kick-start agriculture, and increase local production and manufacturing?” Gordon said.
Gordon applauded the Government for initiating the registration process.
“Leadership is about making the right decision for the good of the group in the service of the common good. The Government, against all odds and with great opposition to the decision, has begun registering the migrants who are here in Trinidad and Tobago. This is a bold and courageous step of national leadership. It is the right step. We have to be our brother’s and sister’s keeper,” Gordon said.
“The registration process is a huge undertaking. It will be complex and pose many challenges, but it is important. We all need to assist those for whom the process is intended, as best we can,” Gordon said.
“Once they are registered, we need to welcome, protect, promote and integrate. In this process every citizen needs to do his or her part. And yes, while we care for the migrants, we must also care for all those on the fringe of our society”.
“Now the real work begins. How do we protect these neighbours and integrate them into our country? How do we create win/win situations for them and for the people of Trinidad and Tobago? How do we serve the common good?” he said.
