Attachments
Situation
Aruba
In January, Aruba extended its commercial flight ban to and from Venezuela for another 90 days (with the exception of some maritime trade with trader’s permits). The announcement by the Aruba Chamber of Commerce followed an indication by the Aruban Prime Minister in earlier January that they would lift the ban.
Curaçao
In February, partners in Curaçao reported a slight rise in cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) compared with previous months. Affected individuals, including Venezuelans, contacted R4V partners for support, including shelter, food, health services, and protection.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic issued approximately 25,158 visas, of which 21,509 were for temporary workers and 3,649 for students. By the end of February, the General Directorate of Migration (DGM, acronym in Spanish) had distributed 22,335 identity cards to Venezuelans in the country.
Guyana
Following the Guyana-Venezuela Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace of December 2023, tensions between Guyana and Venezuela subsided slightly at the start of the year, although reports from the field depict two instances of pushbacks of newly arrived Venezuelans at the border. The Guyana authorities emphasized its commitment to humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans and confirmed that the official policy remains unchanged, yet a variance in local practices for admission and documentation has been observed, reflecting a nuanced approach during periods of fluctuating tensions.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago authorities announced that the first tranche of 815 extended minister’s permits would be ready for collection on 4 March 2024,, for Venezuelans who had submitted renewal requests between 20 June and 11 August 2023. On 1 February, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard detained 27 Venezuelans, including three children, for irregular entry into the country. The nation also recorded its first human trafficking conviction, sentencing the trafficker to 15 years. Partners have pledged support to the new heads of the Counter Trafficking Unit, who promised to tackle the human trafficking scourge in the country by creating a digital platform to aid victims of trafficking (VoTs) more effectively, along with a resource map and referral mechanism for better support coordination. Concerns have been raised that Venezuelan refugees and migrants are being paid under the minimum wage. The Ministry of Labour has indicated that the increased minimum wage applies to all persons, including documented and undocumented individuals.