TRINIDAD - AVIS AUX NAVIGATEURS

Merci à Michel (Graffiti) pour cette mise à jour



11 novembre Trinidad

il y du brasse- camarade au bureau de l'Immigration de Chaguaramas , Trinidad

il serait important que tout le monde soit au courant afin de ne pas avoir de surprise

l article a ete publie par un journal local THE GUARDIEN

il y a aussi des soucis au bureau des customs qui exige de deposer les "flares gun ainsi que les "hand-flare" au bureau des douanes et de ne les reclamer que 48 heures avant le depart de Trinidad

Copie de l'article paru dans THE GUARDIAN

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After $3,000 extension fees...
Rhondor Dowlat
Published:
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Yachties are threatening to pull out of T&T because they claim immigration officers are demanding fees—as much as $3,000—to extend their stay if they wanted to complete repairs to their yachts. They come to T&T from all over the world to have their boats repaired, whether it is engine, upholstery or body repairs, because, they say, T&T is one of the best dry docks in the Caribbean.

Rent of a berth for the month is US$1,000 and some yachts have to stay for over 12 months because of delays in repairs. Their average cost of living for about a year is US$40,000. Many businesses along the western peninsula benefit from yachties’ business. Speaking with the T&T Guardian on Tuesday, a boat owner, who only chose to identify himself as an European who is in T&T working on his boat, said he was asked by an immigration officer to pay $500 for an extension.

“One time before I had to pay TT$100 for a three-month extension...now I got problems and they say I have to pay TT$500. “I saw them put some of the money I gave in his front pocket but I say nothing because I wants no trouble,” he said. Another yachtie, a German, invited the T&T Guardian on board his yacht, which has been in dry dock for about a year. He did not want to give his name for fear of being a target of criminal elements.

He said he was approached to pay a bribe for an extension but refused. “We have certain legal information on every country and I can safely say that we yachties are seldom involved in crime and criminal activities. “We highly expect that the authorities respect the international contract that covers us from the United Nations.

“I know that certain officers in Trinidad leave the legal base for whatever reason but they want to take our money but I do like Bob Marley say, ‘I stand up for my rights.’ I am not going to pay bribe.” The German retiree, who has been visiting Trinidad every 18 months since 1988, docked in Chaguaramas in October last year and was only placed in dry dock in November. He said within the last five months he had strange experiences.

“I was told that I have to leave and cannot get an extension because I come here too often. I was told never to come back. “Then suddenly when I went today (Tuesday) at the Immigration Office, the four officers I usually saw were not there. “One officer was there and he granted me my extension without any hustle. It was strange but it worked out for me because my yacht is still under repairs,” he added.

He said his fellow yachties were becoming more and more frustrated and planned to leave the island, never to return. “In 2008 when I came there were 3,000 yachts here. When we are here we create employment for about 500 people. In 2010-2012 there was a significant decline to about 1,000 boats. “So think about why and think about how many people remain unemployed. We help the unemployment and we help boost tourism and the economy through our foreign exchange,” the retiree added.

His wife said she recently encountered a problem at Piarco Airport when she returned to Trinidad from a short vacation. “I flew in-and-out four times before and this last time I was told by an immigration officer that I needed a letter from the captain so I said no problem, but I tried to explain that I had no problems before and why the change now?

“I was then made to sit on a bench for an hour only to be told by a supervisor later on I can go ahead because I am a Caricom member,” she said. “This is outrageous as to what is going on here in T&T. How could each and every immigration officer seem to have a different agenda and their own rules?” she asked. The German said he was confused as to why the immigration officers were holding them to ransom and ill-treating them and called on the T&T Government for protection.

Ministers respond

Minister of National Security Gary Griffith, when contacted on the issue, expressed shock. He said he had not been aware of the situation but promised to speak to Chief Immigration Officer Gerry Downer about it. Griffith, in the interim, recommended to all yachties not to fall prey to officers who attempted to manipulate them in any way to pay bribes for extensions. He said they should immediately contact Downes or him personally and report the immigration officers.

Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz said although the yachties did not fall under his ministry he was aware of the issue and understood the line minister, Minister of Trade Vasant Bharath, met with them recently. Bharath could not be reached for comment.