PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning has called on Chief Immigration Officer Herman Browne to stop the harassment of Chinese immigrants in this country.

Two weeks ago Manning summoned Browne and his deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Keith Collins to a high-level meeting at his Whitehall Office, Port of Spain to discuss the plight of Chinese, who are being hounded down by the Immigration Department.

Manning reportedly told the two senior officers that he had been receiving reports of Immigration Officers targeting Chinese nationals, a number of whom have applications for residential status pending at the Ministry of National Security and those seeking extensions of stay.

The PM pointed to instances where Chinese nationals were picked up by the Immigration Department on the grounds that they were illegally in T&T, even while they were awaiting decisions by the Ministry of National Security for their status to be regularised.

All these Chinese had entered the country legally, it was learnt.

Chief Immigration
Officer HERMAN
BROWNE ...
surprised and
shocked.

Prime Minister
PATRICK
MANNING

Reliable sources told TnT Mirror that while Immigration Officers have focussed more on checking Chinese business places for illegal immigrants, there are hundreds of illegal Caricom nationals and Nigerians in T&T.

Manning pointed out to Browne that the Chinese are contributing to the economy and are even providing jobs for nationals.

He said they are not dependent on the government and are not involved in any illegal activities.

Sources say that since Browne took over as Chief Immigration Officer, his department has singled out Chinese for investigations into their status in the country.

However, Browne reportedly explained to the prime minister that he was only following the law to deal with illegal immigrants and denied that the Chinese had been targeted.

A source told Mirror Browne seemed surprised and shocked at the way he was put under heavy manners by the PM.

Sources in the National Security Ministry said line minister Martin Joseph is also concerned about the harassment of Chinese nationals by the Immigration Department.

Over the past two years, Chinese fast-food restaurants have been springing up in nearly every corner across T&T.

The Debe/Penal area in South Trinidad has been described as “Chinatown”, with scores of Chinese fast-food outlets in the area.

There are hundreds of other Chinese fast-food outlets along the East-West Corridor up to Sangre Grande and throughout Central Trinidad.

Mirror was told that the local “Chinese Connection” brings in nationals from China and sets them up in business.

They have to work and pay back the investment to the Chinese Connection in South and Port of Spain.

However, they are seen as making a contribution to the economy and are not a liability to the State.

This year the Chinese community will celebrate their 200 bi-centennial.

The government has declared October 12 a public holiday to mark the occasion.