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PM Says Venezuela Visa Restriction A Security Measure

Image of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet

PRIME Minister Allen Chastanet has declared that the imposition of a visa requirement for Venezuelans visiting this country was prompted by security concerns and not intended to be a political statement.

Chastanet told reporters that Saint Lucia has been working with the security forces here and Venezuela on the matter.

He explained that when his administration took office, security border controls were ‘none’.

“As you know, there were no coast guard boats. I keep saying that – I am not sure it is resonating with people,” the Prime Minister declared.

Chastanet also recalled that there was no Director of Public Prosecutions and the DPP’s office was not only depleted in terms of personnel, but obviously had no support systems in place, while the forensic laboratory and the two radar systems were not functioning.

“It almost gave the impression to someone looking on from the outside that it was intentional,” he declared.

“Now you have a real problem in Venezuela with over a million people migrating to Colombia and over 40 to 50,000 to Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are six hours away by speedboat and what we have been seeing is an occurrence of increased drug trafficking and arms coming in, because the Venezuelans themselves who are trying to leave the country and don’t have any money are using those commodities in order to get cash.”

“We feel at this point we need to impose a visa regime until we can get control of our borders, understand what is going on and once we have achieved that satisfactorily, and then we can take off the visa regime.”

Chastanet told reporters that the advanced Passenger Systems Bill passed Tuesday in parliament is something that will help in that regard.

He noted that Venezuelans come here legally by plane and illegally by boat.

The PM asserted that the advantage of the visa requirement is that one a Venezuelan national here is caught without a visa, that person can be sent back home.

“I take the business of border security seriously,” he stated.

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