More than 25 Venezuelans are missing, feared drowned, after their boat sank attempting to reach Trinidad in the early hours of Wednesday morning
According to reports, the fishing vessel, Jhonnaly Jose, left the Venezuelan port city of Guiria at night but capsized in rough seas near Patos Island, 3 miles off the Venezuelan coast. The boat’s official manifest recorded 25 passengers and Venezuelan authorities have released the names of 23 people confirmed as travelling on the boat, but sources say additional passengers may have boarded and not been recorded. Most of the passengers were women aged between 17 and 28, although there were unconfirmed reports from local news agencies that at least two children were on board the boat when it set off. Nine survivors have been found by the Venezuelan and Trinidadian Coast Guards.
The route is a popular one for refugees and migrants who pay traffickers to take them to Trinidad. At its narrowest point, Bocas del Dragón, the stretch of water that separates the Caribbean island from the South American mainland is just 4 miles wide. Although passenger ferries travel between the two countries weekly, many Venezuelans are forced to cross illegally because they do not have passports or other official documents required for entry at official ports. Obtaining passports and official documents issued in Venezuela is almost impossible at this time because of the ongoing crisis and collapsing civil administration.
Most on board were likely hoping for improved living conditions in Trinidad. According to government figures, 3 million Venezuelans have left the country since the economic crisis began and the United Nations high commissioner for refugees and the Trinidadian government estimate that 40,000 Venezuelans are currently living in Trinidad, of whom 10,000 have registered as asylum-seekers with the UN refugee agency. Refugees in Trinidad currently have no employment rights however the Trinidadian government recently announced an amnesty for all Venezuelans living in the country – including those who entered illegally – that will enable them to apply for temporary work permits. The scheme will require registration with the government within a two-week period and will be of limited duration. After one year refugees will be expected to return to Venezuela.
