The U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond and the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) have welcomed the remarks from Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Dr. Amery Browne that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is working towards a phased approach to integrate refugee and migrant children into the public school system.
Ambassador Bond noted that the United States stands ready to work with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in this effort. She also noted that the approach outlined by the Foreign Minister will benefit Trinbagonian children. “Many of the benefits derived from the phased approach we are discussing will result in a more inclusive and cohesive education system for the many Trinbagonian children who dropped out of school during the pandemic and never returned,” Ambassador Bond said.
An estimated 5,000 children registered with UNHCR require access to national education in Trinidad and Tobago. The majority of these children are from Venezuela, but some of them are from other countries including Cuba, Jamaica, and Guyana, among others.