Two minors, born in Syria, have been granted legal entry into Trinidad and Tobago. This development follows proceedings in the courts of the United Kingdom. The law firm representing the children is now appealing for their protection. Alicia Boucher has the details.
00:00Two children aged eight and nine born in Syria to a Trinidadian father who remains detained in Syria and a British mother, now deceased, arrived in Trinidad and Tobago this weekend following an order from a United Kingdom court.
00:16TV6 News understands that the grandparents of the children have been granted guardianship through the court.
00:22Quantum Legal, the law firm representing the children, reveals that the children were living in an orphanage in Syria until the UK government intervened in 2022.
00:33Because the children are of Trinidadian descent, their local relatives were allowed to engage in the proceedings for guardianship.
00:40Attenant Law at Quantum Legal, Kristen J. Williams explains that the lengthy process involved identity verification and DNA testing.
00:49He adds that the government of TNT was party to the proceedings in the UK court.
00:55In the UK court, the government hired a care court, a Queen's Council, and yes, there were objections to bringing the children home, yes.
01:08Williams believes the case signals a lack of will on the part of the state.
01:12There's blockage for some reason where children are being further damaged, especially the children that are still in those camps in Syria.
01:24According to the attorney, while there were talks of TNT setting up a facility to receive women and children repatriated from Syria, that has not been done.
01:33He says without knowing how such a facility would function, it is premature to say whether it would work in the best interest of children or not.
01:41Asked if the government has offered any services, such as psychosocial support, to facilitate the arrival of the children, Williams has this response.
01:51We are waiting with open arms to engage the states in a proper model that can secure transits by youth's best interest.
02:00So, answer your question, the answer is no. Not from the state, ma'am.
02:04According to Quantum Legal, the UK court has imposed reporting restrictions, prohibiting the identification of the children from being placed in the public domain in any way, such as through the media.
02:16While that court has no jurisdiction over this country, Williams says it is in the best interest of the minors if it is adhered to.
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