The case of eight-year-old Ismael Roberts, highlighted in this newspaper, being reportedly denied the start of his education is difficult to comprehend. From the story given by his mother, her son was born in Syria, where her husband had gone to join the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS) in its jihad against the established government.
Ms Marsha Roberts says she has not been allowed to enroll her son in a school, as he has been denied identification papers and other necessary documents to allow the process. The case of Master Roberts is even more difficult to understand, as he was allowed into T&T although he was born in Syria, but according to his mother, is now being denied the opportunity at this critical stage of his life, of the right to start an education.
As of yesterday, there was no response on the matter from Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly. Surely, such a clarification and/or justification is necessary to understand the problems associated with young Ismael not being able to attend school.
The Minister must also state if the case of Master Roberts is one replicated in many instances here. There have also been the reported instances of Venezuelan children, whose parents have been allowed to live and work here, but their children are out of school for one reason or the other.
At eight years, it’s already quite late for Ismael, who has already lost out on his early grounding in education. If not corrected soon, this deficiency can impact seriously on his long-term educational development and so, the quality of his life. Whatever the problems of his father, Ismael is a complete innocent.
A number of Government spokespersons, including ministers, have talked about the concerns of having persons here who have had some indoctrination to and interaction with militant ideologies abroad returning. It is a very legitimate reason for a government to be cautious about the possibility of persons so indoctrinated, due to the possibility of them spreading those ideologies here.
However, the Government must develop policies to provide the correct environment for those who deliberately, forcibly or were coerced become involved with ISIS to be allowed re-entry. In insisting on such policies and programmes, the Government will be safeguarding the national interest.
However, and this is the big and troubling point, it has taken too long a period to develop the structures necessary to accommodate a return of the nationals and their children.
From reports, our nationals, like people from other countries, are living in hellish conditions in foreign countries. What are such persons to do, as they may not be allowed to enter any other country; and that will be no fault of those governments.
Having the responsibility to accept nationals wanting to return home after the ISIS misadventure is not unique to Trinidad and Tobago. Reports are that countries such as Australia, which is very cautious about its borders, neighbouring Barbados, Canada and the United Kingdom have allowed their nationals to re-enter.
Is it over-caution in the instance of the Government; or does it have to do with insufficient commitment to have nationals back home?