SOME Trinidadian workers currently stranded on fruit farms across Canada were still able to enjoy a Trini- style Christmas with fruit cake, sorrel and roti, as the diaspora rallied to bring some cheer to the exiled nationals.
One such exercise was spearheaded by Drupatiâs, a roti and Indian delicacies shop in Toronto, where Trinidadians looking to comfort their fellow citizens were able to drop off boxes of local delights that form the essence of a âTriniâ Christmas.
One Trinidadian resident in Canada said she heard about the drive from a cousin, packed a box and sent it in.
âI wish I could have done more, theyâre our people,â she told the Express yesterday.
A few lucky Trinidadians were hosted by nearby friends for Christmas dinner before parts of Canada returned to heavy lockdowns yesterday in another bid to curb rising Covid-19 infections.
But many Trinidad and Tobago nationals sheltering in place in countries like Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, who were cut off by the closure of local borders and the global near-shutdown of airline services, spent Christmas alone.
Stranded Trinis abroadâthousands of themâhave one thing in common: they are pining to come home.
Some are in groups, such as migrant seasonal farm workers in Canada, and most are pleading for the chance to return as they are relying mostly on the kindness of people they befriended over the course of the past few months.
Donations of food, gifts bring taste of Trinidad and Tobago to stranded farm workers
Roughly 400 people from Trinidad and Tobago are stuck on Canadian farms after labouring through the pandemic as essential workers. They won t be home for Christmas, but the community is bringing the celebration to them.
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Posted: Dec 23, 2020 4:10 AM ET | Last Updated: December 23, 2020
Nicole Anatascio-Davis (left) and Racheal Singh react as Charles Haggart and Petty Ramrattan delivery a box of food to their bunkhouse at Schuyler Farms in Norfolk County, Ont. on Dec. 22, 2020.(Dan Taekema/CBC)
Government trying to bring farm workers home from Canada
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs senator Amery Browne - Jeff Mayers
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said he has been working with the National Security Minister and the Canadian High Commissioner to ensure that the Trinidadian farm workers in Canada are repatriated to TT.
Their work permits expired on Tuesday, making them technically illegal immigrants.
Responding to Newsday via WhatsApp message, Browne said “measures are being taken to get them home in batches and to avail them of local quarantine in keeping with our national protocols. Some have already been brought back.
Concerns about COVID-19 have left more than 100 migrant farm workers from Trinidad and Tobago stuck in Ontario, far from their families and unsure of when they'll be able to return home.