WILLEMSTAD - Immigration lawyers in Curaçao say that the island's government collectively arrests Venezuelans. The accusation comes at a time when the cells for foreigners in the SDKK prison are overcrowded. In the past two weeks, 97 Venezuelans were intercepted by the coast guard in three boats at sea and imprisoned.

Since President Maduro closed the borders between the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire in February of this year, it has been relatively calm at sea and often only drug transports were intercepted. But that changed last month.

Johan Rodrigues of the Fundación Barcos de Venezuela says from the Venezuelan coastal town of Vela di Coro that Curaçao can expect more people. "We demonstrate every day on the beach against the closing of the borders, which we are the victims of. This town depends on the skippers and fruit sellers who normally return with money from Curaçao. You can earn money there, dollars. Not here, there is nothing more that brings in money."

Immigration lawyer Adir Ajubi confirms that many Venezuelans who are detained speak Papiamentu or know the island very well. "Some have been here more often and many of them will come back the next time they are deported."

His colleague, lawyer Maya Elzinga-Soumah says that 22 of the Venezuelans who were arrested and transferred to the immigration service in recent weeks have requested protection under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Curaçao does not have an asylum procedure, but under pressure from the Netherlands has now issued an official instruction that must ensure compliance with, among other things, Article 3 ECHR. It stipulates that a person cannot be returned if his safety cannot be guaranteed.

Relocation

"That instruction requires a careful procedure in which Venezuelans are also advised of the possibility of receiving legal assistance," says Elzinga-Soumah. "Most of them immediately get a so-called expulsion decision without listening to the reason why they left their country. That is a violation of human rights as stipulated in the ECHR." Her colleague Ajubi confirms that his clients generally do not know how to apply for protection.

Justice Minister Quincy Girigorie says he does not know whether the procedures have been followed in these specific cases. He promises to check that. He does confirm, however, that the cells in the prison are overcrowded and that they are now looking to relocate the majority to a new location in Willemstad.

Source: NOS