We need peace, dialogue, responsible leadership

A statement by The Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) Archdiocese of Port of Spain

The Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, stands in solidarity with the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), the Archbishop of Port of Spain, and the Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today (CTCT) in expressing deep concern over the mounting tensions in the Southern Caribbean and the growing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants and the poor throughout our region.

As the AEC and CTCT have affirmed, the Caribbean must remain a zone of peace—a region where dialogue triumphs over division, and where every person’s dignity is defended.

A region under threat

The escalation of geopolitical tensions between Venezuela, the United States, and other international powers, together with visible naval presence in our regional waters, has unsettled our societies and endangered the fragile fabric of regional unity.

This atmosphere of uncertainty is compounded by the recent announcement of mass deportations of detained Venezuelan migrants by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

While the State has a legitimate duty to protect its borders, the Church reminds all that such actions must always uphold the sacredness of human life and the demands of justice. They must also respect international law and the principle of non-refoulement.

Hope for the Caribbean Family

The threat of conflict and social fragmentation challenges us to respond with faith, prudence, and compassion. The CCSJ prays that our regional and national leaders will choose the path of dialogue over division, and that our people will reject fear and indifference.

The CCSJ echoes the AEC’s call for peace and Archbishop Gordon’s assurance that Christ Himself says: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (Jn 14:27).

Peace is not passivity but moral courage—the courage to build fraternity, to reject the use of power for domination, and to defend the weak who too often go unheard. As Pope Leo XIV teaches in Dilexi te (§9–10):

“The condition of the poor is a cry that, throughout human history, constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church. On the wounded faces of the poor, we see the suffering of the innocent and, therefore, the suffering of Christ Himself. … There are many forms of poverty—those who lack material means of subsistence, those who are marginalized, those who have no rights, no space, no freedom.”

He further reminds us that while our age has made progress in addressing poverty, this effort remains insufficient, for “old forms of poverty are now joined by new and subtler ones, sometimes more dangerous.”

In this light, the Caribbean’s vocation to peace must also be a commitment to confront every form of poverty and exclusion—material, social, moral, and political. Only by ensuring that the poor and displaced find a voice and a place in our societies can our region truly become a community of justice and peace.

 Condemning extrajudicial killings and the erosion of human dignity

The CCSJ unequivocally condemns the recent extrajudicial killings of suspected drug couriers in international waters. Such acts violate Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to life, and stand in grave contradiction to Catholic moral teaching and international maritime law, both of which require humane treatment for every person, even when accused of a crime.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church §2261 affirms that “no one can claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being,” and the Church has declared all forms of extrajudicial execution inadmissible because they deny the sacredness of life. Justice without mercy ceases to be just.

The human cost of inaction

Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, yet these commitments remain unenforced in domestic law. The closure of the UNHCR National office has left thousands of asylum seekers without a functioning registration or protection system.

In the absence of a national legal framework, vulnerable men, women, and children risk detention, deportation, and refoulement to conditions of insecurity or persecution. Behind every statistic lies a human face—a worker, a parent, a child—seeking safety, dignity, and a future.

Faith in action: The Church’s response

Echoing the Archbishop’s call to “calm the troubled waters,” the CCSJ reaffirms its commitment to deepening collaboration with parish ministries and civil society organisations so that every parish may be a place of welcome, protection, promotion, and integration.

We are determined that fear will not define our response. The Church must continue to advocate, accompany, and assist—grounded in the Gospel truth that “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” As Pope Francis taught us, “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity; they are children of God, bearers of hope.”

A call for justice, prudence, and mercy

The CCSJ joins the voices of the AEC and CTCT in calling for peace, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

We urge:

• A suspension of mass deportations until transparent and humane case reviews are completed;
• Re-engagement with the UNHCR and IOM to restore a credible refugee-protection framework;
• Legislative incorporation of the 1951 Convention into national law;
• Regional cooperation and diplomacy to preserve the Caribbean as a zone of peace;
• Public education to dispel misinformation and promote solidarity with migrants and refugees.
• Citizens to pray for peace and for the dignity of all human persons to be upheld.

The CCSJ asks for your support.

Please donate: Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.

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