T&T Government helping nationals to get out of Japan: Moonilal

The Trinidad and Tobago Government is flying its nationals out of Japan where tens of thousands are fleeing to escape dangerous radiation leaks caused by the nuclear “meltdown” triggered by last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Roodal Moonilal said one of the first citizens to get out of the country will be arrive in Trinidad on Wednesday evening and at least six others will arrive over the next few days. Moonilal said government has been in contact with all but two nationals so far.

Japan has been hit by a triple crisis - a massive earthquake, a dreadful tsunami and now a nuclear nightmare, which has caused authorities to evacuate the areas within a 32 kilometer radius of the nuclear facilities affected.

Moonilal told reporters in his initial conversations with nationals in Japan he got the impression that they would remain. However the said with the dramatic change in the situation they are now eager to get out and get home.

“All of them are interested in being evacuated and we’re working on airlift arrangements, providing advance payments for these persons,” Moonilal said.

There are 25 nationals on record. However Moonilal said it's possible that up to 70 T&T nationals might be in Japan since there could be tourists as well as students and workers.

He said Government's policy is to provide assistance with air travel to get all of them out. "Our first responsibility is to safeguard T&T nationals and we’re doing so with Japanese authorities’ assistance. We’re also co-ordinating systems to transmit donations to the Japanese Red Cross" he said.

He is also confident that Japan will recover from the crisis. “I’m confident, given the tenacity, capacity and commitment of the Japanese people for hard work, that Japan will rise again.”

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