Attachments
Situation
• Aruban media reported various boat entries of Venezuelans into the country, marking an increase in irregular boat arrivals from mid-2023.
• On 8 September, the Curaçao Prosecutor's Office (OM CUR) noted a rise in child smuggling, primarily between Venezuela and Curaçao and issued a warning to all parties, including parents and guardians, to defer from this activity.1 The Curaçao parliament also raised concerns regarding human trafficking and the entry of minors to the country via irregular routes.
• In one case in September, a boat carrying Venezuelans (including 5 children) was intercepted near Curaçao.
Parents of the children, already in Curaçao, were detained while seeking reunification due to suspicion of human smuggling. Court proceedings initiated by an R4V partner led to a ruling for children to be reunited with their parents.
• The President of the Dominican Republic, who initiated the Venezuelan Normalization Plan, announced plans to run for reelection in 2024 as the Modern Revolutionary Party candidate.
• The call for a consultative referendum by Venezuela's National Assembly regarding the territorial dispute with Guyana escalated political tensions between the two countries. Around 80 Venezuelans that arrived in Guyana were temporarily detained by local authorities due to initial fear that these arrivals were linked to the territorial dispute but were later released. Further, the Ministry of Home Affairs in Guyana collaborated with the OAS to tackle human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, particularly among Venezuelans, aiming to strengthen the anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling capacities of OAS Member States, demonstrating the government's commitment to protecting vulnerable refugees and migrants from exploitation and trafficking.
• The academic year in Trinidad and Tobago began on 4 September 2023; however, Venezuelan children registered under the migrant registration framework were not included in schools, despite government announcements on their inclusion in July. Since the announcement, the government indicated that their inclusion into the national education system may possibly occur as of January 2024. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of National Security announced that the second tranche of approved Minister's Permits for registered Venezuelan nationals were ready. As of October, 7,000 of the initial 16,000 registered Venezuelans have renewed their permits.