Plans to repatriate 100 Venezuelans to their home country had to be halted after the Trinidad and Tobago government was made aware that the aircraft being sent from Venezuela was among those which had been sanctioned by the US. 

The Venezuelan Government this week made a request for Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate a repatriation flight- a request which was made via normal diplomatic channels to the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs.

A statement from the Ministry of National Security stated that preliminary approval had been granted for this repatriation exercise “as it was seen as a humanitarian effort by the Government of Venezuela.”

The ministry said all arrangements were made by Venezuela.

The Ministry of National Security has reached out to the United States of America Embassy in Port of Spain to seek guidance and says it will work with the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, with respect to the possibility of a future repatriation exercise by the Venezuelan government.