Ministry of National Security Media Conference - Tuesday February 2nd 2021

Key Points from the Ministry of National Security’s Media Conference – Tuesday February 2nd 2021 Minister of National Security, Stuart Young, provided an update on travel exemptions since the launch of the online system last Monday, January 25th, 2021. He confirmed that in the last eight days, 3,260 online applications were received for persons seeking exemptions, with 6,088 applicants “dropping off” the system. As such, he said there is no truth to reports that there are tens of thousands of TT Nationals stuck outside this country as applicants must sign a Statutory Declaration and provide their Passport Number, which cannot be duplicated. Persons who left late last year for various reasons, persons wanting to leave later in the year to attend family and other milestone events, persons wanting to visit relatives who need help, and TT Nationals who live abroad but now want to return home are among the online applicants. Minister Young noted that certain areas in the online application system were identified for adjusting. He assured that they are doing the best to deal with the system. As at Monday February 1st 2021, 12,338 exemptions have been granted to enter T&T. Minister Young confirmed that 229 TT farm workers have decided to remain in Canada. The National Security Minister said there was never any attempt by Government to keep TT Nationals out of Trinidad and Tobago. Instead, he said there was a "balancing exercise" to manage the entry of Nationals back into the country. Minister Young said Government's efforts in the early days of the pandemic to manage entry/exits and to restrict travel from certain countries have now been copied by other countries. He noted that Canada and the UK have now taken steps to manage their borders.