A group of stranded foreigners.
A group of foreigners, who have been left stranded in St. Lucia following the Lambirds Academy human-trafficking scandal, have said they are worried about their survival, at least for the next couple of weeks.
About 70 persons – the majority from Nepal, The Philippines and India – remain in Saint Lucia under government’s care; 25 are currently being housed at the Pastoral Centre in Gros Islet, and the rest are in apartments. Three persons were returned home.
Though the government has been providing assistance, it is not enough, several of the foreigners told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) recently.
“We are running out of money,” said Suraj (only name given).
Suraj, like all the other students, are not certain when they will get a refund so they could return home.
The Nepali said groceries provided by the government last only week – equivalent to one meal per day.
Suraj said thankfully, Saint Lucians have been donating to the centre, which affords them at least three meals per day.
Alternatively, the group has to purchase food with their own money, which is running low.
Suraj said the students were promised internships in their third month at Lambirds. As a result, the students travelled with enough money for two months. However, that money is almost finished, and based on the current arrangement with food, they are not certain how they will survive in weeks to come.
Suraj said some of the students have hidden the scandal from their parents so that it won’t cause pain and discomfort.
The students are hoping the matter will be resolved quickly so they can retrieve their monies and return home to restart their lives.
Several of the foreigners were present for the recent court hearing into the human trafficking and money laundering case on Friday, April 10, at the Magistrates’ Court.
The four men accused of the scandal were denied bail by the court for a second time.