SITUATION OF VENEZUELAN REFUGEES IN CURACAO IS GETTING WORST?

THE SITUATION WITH THE VENEZUELAN ASYLUM SEEKERS APPEARS TO BE WORSENING ON CURACAO!

by JJosepha News

Twitter.com/JJosephaNews

Photo Source: Caribbean Coast Guard Organization.

MORE VENEZUELANS ENTERING ILLEGALLY TO THE ISLAND

Willemstad, Curacao. The Curacao Coast Guard plane detected, a group of illegal Venezuelans trying to enter Curacao, about 3 miles southwest of Daaibooi beach, using a "yola" (a type of boat). There were 35 undocumented aliens on board their seacraft.

There were; 27 males and 8 females. Allegedly; suspected drugs had also been found among the undocumented aliens and their seacraft. The Venezuelan group and the suspected drugs have been taken into the custody of The Curacao police force and investigations are ongoing.

WHAT IS CURACAO DOING ABOUT ASYLUM SEEKERS?

At the beginning of the month; (April  2nd 2019), a meeting was held between the technical delegations of the Social and Economic Council; (SER), and Curacao's Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath, to discuss the progress of the organization and content of an upcoming symposium,  participation and funding. Apparently; SER; is there to provide assistance on the issue of population and migration policies.

A CALL FOR HELP

In February, after visiting Curacao, The American Refugees International; (ARI), expressed that, "the situation in Curacao is possibly the worst in all of South America region."

The ARI is calling on Curacao, The Netherlands and The Americas, to help the Venezuelans by granting temporary permits to the refugees.

WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON?

Apparently; Curacao has ten (10) Venezuelans without residence permits housed behind bars for two months. These Venezuelan have described the conditions as "very bad" and "inhumane". 

These Venezuelans complained that they want to go back to Venezuela, because they are tired of the inhumane situation, and according to the Venezuelans, the situation in their own country is apparently better than that in the Curacao prison.

There have been reports that the Venezuelans that are making accusations about inhumane treatment have partaking in a hunger strike, in order to force their eviction.

Last year, Venezuelans accounted for 16.3% compared to the Curacao population according to data statistics given by Minister Quincy Girigorie. Furthermore, about 5/8th of these Venezuelans have a resident permit and are in Curacao legally.

WHO IS TELLING THE WHOLE AND COMPLETE TRUTH?

Apparently and allegedly, Curacao is currently unable to send the Venezuelans back, because there is apparently, no charter aircraft!

Ieteke Inchi Witteveen; President of The Human Rights Caribbean Foundation, a civic and social organization, apparently made comments regarding the ten (10) Venezuelans, which included that, the ten (10) Venezuelans must be released, because, there is no prospect of expulsion!

Witteveen stated; "Curacao's legislation states, that alien detention is not the result of an offense but is aimed at deportation from Curacao as quickly as possible."

Witteveen continued; “Specifically, the law also states that without prospect of expulsion, aliens must be released. That is the case with these Venezuelans."

Witteveen, further stated; “They see fellow countrymen coming and going but are treated like criminals. One of them is even placed among real criminals as a threat to the rest of the group."

According to reports, allegedly Urny Floran; Curacao's Prison Warden, disagreed, with the statements made by the Venezuelan detainees in his custody. 

Warden Floran allegedly stated;"Nonsense! The foreigners are held in the barracks inside the prison gates, but outside the walls where criminals serve their sentences."

Warden Floran continued; "The 10 have threatened with a hunger strike, nothing more! But it is a fact that there have been no evictions for two weeks now, because there is no plane to take them back!"

Curacao is an autonomous country within The Kingdom of The Netherlands, and as such, what binds The Netherlands therefore binds Curacao, hence Curacao is bounded by The European Convention on Human Rights and other human rights treaties and instruments. However; it seems that the Curacao government and the Curasalenos authorities are not and have not been respecting human rights on the island for its own citizens and not for foreigners!

As the 2013 Assassinated Curacao Political Leader, Helmin Wiels used to say; "there is whole lot of hypocrites and massive hypocrisy on the Island of Curacao, they talk nice and they talk a lot but they do nothing productive for Curacao, otherwise Curacao would have been in a much better position."

Could what he was saying, be true?

©2019 JJosepha News. All rights reserved.