They haven’t been paid in months, they were seen eating ’dry bread’, cannot speak a word of English and would rather return to the crowded streets of Fujian Province than stay to work as labourers in Trinidad.

However, they want the money that they claim is owed to them before they leave.

This is what about 85 Chinese nationals say they were protesting when they gathered on the South-bound lane of the Uriah Butler Highway, near Guayamare, early yesterday morning.

Police were called to rein them in, and escorted them from the highway to the administrative branch of the Immigration Department on Henry Street, Port of Spain.

When the Express arrived, around noon, at the Immigration compound on Henry and New Streets, Port of Spain, the Chinese workers were there, adamantly refusing to be sent back to work at the Five Rivers Secondary School compound in Arouca, and also refused to return to where they were being housed in Central Trinidad.

Some indicated by sign language that they were hungry and patted their pockets, as if to illustrate to the local media that they were empty; while others took empty water bottles onto the Immigration compound, gesticulating that they were in need of water.

While most could only speak their native language, Mandarin Chinese, the few who did know some English told the Express they had come here from the Fujian Province in China about 18 months ago ’to make money for family’, and were ready to go back home because they had not been paid for several months.

They used sign language and gestures to show they were ready to ’fly’ and be on ’a plane to China’.

They also showed a handwritten letter in English, explaining their plight and asking the Government to intervene, but could not say who had written the letter for them.

One of the workers said they were each owed 30,000 yuan (TT$22,000), for two months of work.

Many citizens who gathered in front the Immigration office expressed concern and sympathy for the men, many of whom they said ’looked afraid’.

’They have a unique job and they work hard and fast. Unlike most of us they are productive,’ said one local Chinese man who was passing by. The man said he was not affiliated with the workers in any way, but had observed the conditions under which they live in Trinidad at various compounds and felt they were being treated unfairly.

After several hours with nothing to eat and much pleading from Gang Liang, an official who came from the local Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the men dispersed in the dozens, making their way across New Street onto Charlotte Street.

Embassy officials said they could not decide who was right in the dispute but were only present to ensure that the rights of all their nationals are protected.

When the Express tried to find out where the men were going for the night, one could only say in broken English, ’We do not have idea.’ However, the group maintained they were not going back to work or to the compound where they are being housed.

While speaking, at the scene, to the police, who also expressed concern for the well-being of the men who are relatively new to Trinidad, one Embassy official said the men wanted to be taken to the Embassy, but could not be taken there because there were too many of them, and they did not want to be separated from each other.

The workers eventually made their way to the Embassy in St Clair, where they were afforded a translator. Late last night they were escorted by police from the Embassy.