Bring Trinis home from Syria says MP

A Trinidad lawmaker thinks that with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria last weekend, now would be the most appropriate time to redouble efforts to bring a few dozen Trinidadian nationals who had gone to the Middle East years ago to enlist as jihadist fighters back home.

Opposition parliamentarian Dinesh Rambally pleaded with authorities to do all in their power to make this happen, as the group had left the island to campaign alongside fighters between six and nine years ago. Some were arrested and jailed for illegal entry, others were abandoned in refugee camps, penniless and desperate, and others, like 12 family members of Rio Claro Islamic leader Nazim Mohammed, are believed to have been killed. The 12 were part of a gang of 19 who left Trinidad to fight alongside various groups in Iraq and Syria. They have not been heard from since.

In a statement this week, Rambally urged the government to redouble efforts to repatriate those who might have been discharged from prison and or are living in refugee camps as he expressed concern about the apparent inaction by authorities to bring them home.

He said that the weekend collapse of the Assad regime in Syria will trigger profound uncertainties, and this is one reason why the pace should be picked up.

“However, the situation now demands urgency, especially as the political dynamics in Syria shift unpredictably. Their welfare cannot be left in limbo. I implore the government to prioritize this issue before further complications arise, risking the lives and futures of these vulnerable young citizens. The country has “a moral and constitutional duty to protect our children, no matter where they are. Let us fulfill it without further delay. This development adds an alarming layer of instability to an already dire humanitarian crisis. I have repeatedly called for action, stressing the need to separate the plight of innocent children from that of adults accused of crimes.”

The Keith Rowley administration had set up a special committee to review the issue. However, officials say special legislation is needed to deal with locals who have become members of terror or extremist groups and how they are resettled back home. Officials say that a bill is already being drafted but has not made its way to the House yet.