00:00A legal dilemma surrounding Canadian travel blogger Christopher Hughes appears set to be resolved.
00:06Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander says Hughes will be granted temporary permission to return to Trinidad and Tobago
00:14despite being deported in 2024 and designated as an undesirable inhabitant under the Immigration Act.
00:22Speaking with TV6, the minister questioned how the situation was allowed to develop.
00:27He said, quote, someone fell asleep on the job.
00:30Why has it reached a stage where a man who was charged in TNT but was deported must now make
00:37an effort to be allowed back in for trial, end quote.
00:41Alexander suggested the matter resulted from an administrative oversight.
00:45He said, quote, now I, as Homeland Security Minister, will issue a minister's permit allowing him to return to Trinidad
00:53and Tobago to complete his matter before the court, end quote.
00:56Hughes was arrested during a visit to TNT in 2024 after authorities accused him of publishing videos that amounted to
01:05seditious statements.
01:06He was later deported and prohibited from re-entering the jurisdiction even as criminal proceedings against him continued.
01:14His trial is set to begin on July 22nd and is expected to last three days.
01:20Just days ago, Hughes appeared virtually before the court.
01:24My trial date is on July 22nd.
01:27It is mandatory that I appear in court, but I am banned for life and not allowed to appear in
01:34court.
01:35It's two different court systems fighting against each other, both in Trinidad and I'm the victim to this.
01:41According to him, prosecutors had repeatedly written to the ministry responsible for national security,
01:47seeking temporary permission for him to return, but no response had been received.
01:52The blogger said he was in a catch-22 situation.
01:56One of two things would happen.
01:58Immigration would say, no, you're denied, return to the country in which you came from,
02:04and or imprison me with new charges for attempting to enter a country that I am banned from.
02:10That's what would happen.
02:11So it's like, damned if I do, damned if I don't.
02:13If I go with this ban, I'm arrested.
02:16If I don't go, I'm found guilty.
02:19Hughes also maintained that he wants to appear before the court, but said he believed he had been placed in
02:26an impossible situation.
02:28I'm not allowed to attend, but if I don't attend, I'm guilty?
02:34Make that make sense.
02:35If anybody watching today's video can make that make sense, please let me know.
02:40And this is something I will not avoid.
02:42I just wanted to make sure that was clear.
02:44I have every intention of showing up and appearing on my trial date, July 22nd, but I'm not allowed to.
02:53Minister Alexander says the government will now facilitate Hughes' return strictly for the purpose of the criminal proceedings.
03:00Alexander said, quote, upon completion of his court matter, if he has to be imprisoned and save time,
03:06he will be allowed to stay until its completion.
03:09If not, he will be required to leave and return to his country of origin, end quote.
03:14Hughes continues to deny the allegation of publishing a seditious statement.
03:18His trial is expected to commence before the High Court on July 22nd.
03:23Ravashita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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