Because of the crisis, the issue of Venezuelans fleeing to Trinidad and Tobago has become more complicated
There are cases dated In 2017, at the height of the economic crisis, many young girls (some of them orphans) who had no family to support them decided to leave school and travel from Caracas to Tucupita by bus. When they arrive there, they take small motorboats, set off for Trinidad and Tobago.
Venezuelan immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago
Most of the time, these young immigrants have someone on site in Trinidad promising them that they will have a job in the construction sector when they are there. But in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad, the cost of living is so high that they often have to work a second night job, and most of the time they find themselves facing pressure to enter prostitution. Sometimes, some of these young girls smuggle themselves back to Venezuela less than a year after leaving.
For many of these young Venezuelans, the journey to Trinidad and Tobago can be a difficult one, and the conditions they are met with upon arrival can be dire.
Out of the more than 6 million Venezuelans in exile, 29,000 were reportedly listed in Trinidad and Tobago as of January 2022. In terms of population, the Caribbean nation is home to the most Venezuelan exiles. There are more than 1.2 million Venezuelan citizens in that situation. Numerous illegal immigrants, many of whom have arrived since the imposition of a visa in 2019, must be added to this number. Numerous reports say boats are going missing at sea. The tragedy of a child passing away in 2022 as the Trinidadian coastguards were boarding a boat shocked numerous people.
Venezuelan migration to Trinidad and Tobago. The necessity and the Business
The smugglers of Tucupita continue to make money by accepting candidates for the covert crossing, despite these risks. Everyone is eager to leave, and many say they will do so soon.
Many people have relatives and neighbors who have moved away, most frequently to Brazil, which is a two-day bus ride away. Going to Colombia or Brazil is simpler and less dangerous, but once they are there, the daily income is only $10. But according to what is said on the field, it can go as high as $25 in Trinidad. However, some humanitarian organizations like IRC, MSF Brazil, Project Hope Colombia, and others bring different kind of support to the migrants.
For these people, the decision to move is not an easy one, but they are driven by the need to provide for their families and the desire to have a better life. Even with all the risks, many immigrants still choose to move because they believe that it will give them a better quality of life than they have in their home countries
Smugglers can transport a certain number of migrants. A few kilometers downstream from the military port, passengers board at a beach on the Orinoco River. Each person may pay up to $250. The cost of the 600 liters of gasoline for the trip to Trinidad is $420. This is a very lucrative business for the owners of the boats, as it ensures a steady income. Other people also make their living from this activity.
On the shores of Tucupita, local Indian tribes, also impacted by the crisis, have left their traditional habitats to move closer to the city and now live on begging. On the river, only their own traditional boats, glide silently over the water. No engine sounds on the horizon; the gas station is deserted.
According to many people, they sometimes have to wait several days for gasoline to become available. Its price has increased so much that no one travels by motorboat anymore, except for smugglers. People who live in the delta, which can only be reached by boat and is cut off from basic services, are stuck there every day. This situation has caused despair and frustration among the population, as there are no alternatives for transport or communication.
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