By Sue-Ann Wayow

TRINIDAD and Tobago is off limits to Venezuela.

This according to a fiery Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar speaking at a post-Cabinet press conference on Thursday

She said she will be seeking legal advice on allowing the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard to use deadly force against any unidentified vessel coming to the country from Venezuela. And national security will be reassessed.

She said on Thursday, “As a responsible government, we have to take all threats against any incursion into our territory seriously. I will speak to the Minister of Defence and the Attorney General to seek advice on protections for our Coast Guard to use deadly force on any unidentified vessel entering T&T waters from Venezuela.”

Speaking at the Red House Port of Spain, Persad-Bissessar maintained a denial of claims made by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that a paramilitary group entered Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago.

She addressed both local and Venezuelan reports, one in which the Venezuelan Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello alleged that a Trinidadian national had been captured among the group.

Cabello also alleged US involvement.

“Again, we have seen no evidence to support the comments from these Venezuelan officials,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She responded to remarks attributed to Cabello when he warned on Wednesday night, “There must be justice. We are going after the gangs wherever they are.”

Persad-Bissessar said, “Today I want to make it very clear to the Venezuelan government and officials that they can do whatever they want on Venezuelan territory, but they cannot come here. T&T territory is off limits to them.”

 “If Mr Cabello’s comments are a real threat to enter T&T territory, they should reconsider any such intention,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar also said Trinidad and Tobago will not tolerate unauthorised crossings.

“Smuggling military-abled men, able-bodied men and women—T&T is off limits to them.”

She said, “We have to now take seriously the threat by that government sending their agents into our country to commit acts that can be adverse to our own welfare.”

Persad-Bissessar added that the government will review its approach to Venezuelan migrants currently residing in Trinidad and Tobago, especially those of military age.

“We will also have to take a look at how we go forward with Venezuelan migrants here who are military-aged and able-bodied men and women. We have to take this threat seriously now.”

“They have done this before,” she warned. “They made similar propaganda comments about Guyana and Colombia whenever they had interior political problems or elections and then they engage in border skirmishes with violence.”

Referring to comments made by the Venezuelan Justice Minister condemning treatment of Venezuelans in the US, Persad-Bissessar said he should instead ask why they were fleeing their homeland.

She said, “No amount of rhetoric from the Maduro government will drive any wedge between this UNC-led government and the US government. We stand solidly with the American Government on the issues concerning Venezuela.”

Persad-Bissessar added, “That will not change. We want no part of the Venezuelan government’s interior political gimmickry. We are peaceful neighbours, let us leave it at that.”

The prime minister also warned local smugglers posing as fishermen.

“I want to tell T&T drug and human traffickers, smugglers who are masquerading as fishermen. If you enter Venez waters to do your illegal acts and you are caught by Venez authorities, you are on your own.”

No amount of family crying on media programmes will cause government to intervene, Persad-Bissessar said.

Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge said government was not yet provided with photos or evidence by the Venezuelan authorities that the Trinidadian was involved in the paramilitary group and was awaiting such.

He said, “We are taking the threat very seriously given the dynamics, the geopolitics where we find ourselves particularly given our proximity to Venezuela.”

Sturge said there was eveidence of the Tren de Aragua gang in Trinidad.

Sturge said Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers have reached out in an attempt to speak with Venezuelan authorities.

The Venezuelans who are already in the country and those who will be coming in especially the military-aged ones which he said were persons 18 years and older will also be closely monitored he said.

Since Maduro initially made the claims on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence has stated to date, it has received no evidence but an investigation was ongoing and border security was reinforced.