Caption: Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has responded to Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodriquez saying she should complain to US President Donald Trump about the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Her comments come after Rodriquez accused Trinidad and Tobago on Monday of participating in the US seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on December 10.
Washington took control of the tanker in a dramatic raid that saw US forces rope down from a helicopter onto the vessel in an operation that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said was aimed at leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s “regime.”
A statement on Monday read Venezuela “reports that it is fully aware of the participation of the government of Trinidad and Tobago in the theft of Venezuelan oil, committed by the US administration on December 10 during the attack on a vessel.”
Caracas denounced the seizure as an “act of international piracy.”
But, in a response to AZP News on Monday afternoon, Persad-Bissessar said she was not bothered by the release.
She said, “They should direct their complaints to President Trump as it is the US military that has seized the sanctioned oil tanker. In the meantime we continue to have peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people.
“We have never depended on Venezuela for natural gas supplies. We have adequate reserves within our territory. We are aggressively working to reduce bureaucratic barriers to speed up approvals for energy companies.
“The real issue is bureaucracy is hindering our exploration and production.
“(Opposition Leader) Pennelope Beckles and (former foreign affairs Minister Dr Amery) Browne’s hatred of the American government and American people is shameful. However if the (People’s National Movement) PNM wants to protect drug traffickers and human traffickers, that’s on them. I welcome the assistance of the US to protect our citizens.”
Since August, Washington has deployed a significant military presence in the Caribbean, officially to combat drug trafficking destined for the United States.
Caracas believes this is an operation aimed at ousting Maduro from power and seizing the country’s vast oil reserves.
On Monday morning, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs had authorised US military aircraft to use its airports, amid growing fears Washington may be preparing an attack on nearby Venezuela.
The ministry stated it had given the green light for US military aircraft to use its airports “in the coming weeks.”
The ministry said Washington would use them for “logistical” operations, including “facilitating supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations.”
In October, a US guided missile destroyer docked in Trinidad for four days of joint drills, within firing range of Venezuela.
Last month, a contingent of US Marines took part in exercises in T&T.
The United States has also installed at radar at a new uncompleted airport in Tobago, which Persad-Bissessar says is aimed at detecting Venezuelan drug trafficking and sanctions-busting oil deliveries. – information from AFP was used in this article.
