Features
Newsday reporter
The Office of the International Organization for Migration in Port of Spain (IOM PoS) hosted the Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) on December 3, in recognition of International Migrants’ Day, which is celebrated annually and globally on December 18.
The GMFF is organized by IOM offices in various countries from November 28 to December 18, when it ends on International Migrants’ Day. The General Assembly of the United Nations, taking into account the large and growing number of immigrants in the world, declared December 18 the International Day of Immigrants, according to a press release.
“The day is an opportunity to promote an informed and balanced conversation on migration and to share the stories, experiences, aspirations of migrants in their communities. This holiday also reminds us of our interdependence, our common humanity and the unique contributions we make collectively. for our shared communities,” the announcement said.
The film festival was held at Estate 101, Maraval, and also focused on cultural integration as a way in which migrants can benefit society – in this case – specifically Venezuelan migrants and the similarities and interesting features of the cultures of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela .
The head of the IOM office in Port of Spain, Jewel Ali, gave the opening speech.
She said: “It is believed that by watching this film together in Trinidad and Tobago, we can all continue to positively influence the way immigrants are viewed, support diversity, advance deeper and broader policy integration, as well as to fight racism, xenophobia and others. the elements of intolerance”.
The political officer of the American Embassy, John Miller, also spoke in the evening.
He said: “Inclusion means belonging to a social and legal environment where people are welcome, accepted and connected to each other. That is why we are here tonight. Community members come together in friendly, caring, and authentic ways and have opportunities to participate in community life and ongoing evolution.”
The film selected for the 2022 local edition was a TT documentary, Lifted, which was produced in 2019. Set against a candid conversation about diversity in TT, the film follows a day in the life of a refugee family as they travel to a moko xumbie (foot-feet) class. After the screening, a panel discussion was held.
The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Michal Pawinski, Lecturer, Institute of International Affairs, University of the West Indies, St Augustine and consisting of Kimoy Thomas-Williams, Acting Director of the Anti-Trafficking Unit; Father Martin Sirju, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Church of TT; Grevic Alvarado, journalist and Anya Ayoung-Chee, designer/social entrepreneur. Topics included the importance of migration policy, the dangers of discrimination, the education of immigrant children and the power of culture to unite.
Another highlight at the event was the presentation of Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews, head of immigration, with the Migrant Hero Award from IOM PoS, for her many years of dedicated positive work in the field of migration.
The festival was made possible through the continued support of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which has also been a valued source of funding for the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP). ) since 2019. , the announcement states.
RMRP donor conferences have previously been organized by the Delegation of the European Union to TT and the High Commission of Canada. For the RMRP 2023-2024, which will be co-hosted by the EU and Canada, the issue of integration will be given greater importance.
The United Nations Migration Network of TT (UNNM-TT) also provided financial support for the festival.
