National Security Minister Hermangild Francis has disclosed that ‘almost 25 Venezuelans’ were picked up by the police since the beginning of this year.
The minister said that’s according to a document presented to him by Police Commissioner, Severin Moncherry.
He said there were ‘quite a few’ who were held for illegal entry and arrangements are being made to send them back to their native country.
Francis told reporters last week, ahead of a meeting with a Venezuela government delegation, that the figure represented the tip of the iceberg.
“There are a lot of persons who are not picked up,” the minister noted.
He said picking-up 25 Venezuelans for various offences indicates that there is a problem.
Francis made the comments as he defended the decision of the Allen Chastanet administration to impose visa restrictions on Venezuelan visitors.
The government has said that the move was based on security concerns.