Community supports migrant workers trapped in Niagara
Dozens of Trinidadian farm labourers unable to return home due to travel restrictions
Lyndon Jones should have been home months ago, reunited with his wife and children in Trinidad after spending the summer working at a Beamsville farm.
But Jones, who would have typically been on his way home in early October, was instead trapped in Canada until Dec. 23. He was one of dozens of migrant workers from Trinidad affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions implemented by the government of their Caribbean nation.
“We couldn’t leave because of the border restriction in our country,” Jones said in an interview via Whatsapp. “I left my wife and three children back home. It was pretty tough.”
In the meantime, work permits expired and the farmhands could no longer earn an income to cover the cost of staying here.
Jones said local farmers did their best to keep the workers from Trinidad busy, even after the harvest until they were no longer legally permitted to work, in order to provide some income. “We had about 50 guys on the farm and they found work for all 50 guys.”
In the weeks after they could no longer work, parishioners from west Niagara churches and representatives from Niagara Regional Labour Council stepped in to ensure they were as comfortable as possible, said Pastor Nathan Dirks from Southridge Community Church.
“People did grocery runs and brought it to the guys,” Dirks said. “Our hope was they’d be able to use those groceries instead of digging into their own savings.”
Although Jones was eventually able to return to Trinidad prior to Christmas, he was still unable to spend the holidays with his family.
“It was pretty tough during the holidays,” he said. “This is a time we’ve never been apart. This year, I spent Christmas and New Year’s Day in quarantine. It was a first.”
He left Niagara with a heavy heart, knowing he was leaving behind a handful of his colleagues who have yet to receive permission to return to Trinidad.
“It was kind of a bittersweet experience for me,” Jones said. “We still have five guys waiting to get an exemption. They spent New Year’s (Day) in Canada. … It’s pretty hard for the guys I know who stayed back on our farm. It’s pretty tough for them.”
Dirks said the community again pitched in to help the workers who remained in Niagara during the holidays.
“A few of our families got hot meals together on December 23, 24 and on Christmas Day itself,” he said, adding meals were delivered to workers at two farms.
“At least they’d be able to have a nice hot meal.”
Parishioners also kept the workers from Trinidad in mind while shopping for Christmas presents.
“They put together gift bags with a bunch of stuff, dart boards and cards and dominoes and things like that. Just things for the guys because they’re isolated. At least they’d be able to have a bit of fun,” he said.
Gloves and tuques were also delivered to the workers, many of whom weren’t equipped for Canada’s cold winter weather, as well as messages of support “to let the guys know we were here for them.”
“It didn’t feel sufficient, but they’re our friends,” he said. “Based on what the guys were telling us, they felt supported, which was good.”
Efforts continue to support the workers from Trinidad who remain in Niagara.
“We’re still supporting them with groceries since they can’t work,” he said.
Dirks said there’s still no word on when the remaining workers will be able to return home.