Caption: Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Prior Beharry
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar dismissed Venezuela’s announcement that it is suspending all energy agreements with Port of Spain, saying the move will not derail her government’s plans and will not influence national security policy.
“This is of no concern to us,” Persad-Bissessar said in a statement responding to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who linked the suspension to the US Navy destroyer USS Gravely’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
“Our future does not depend on Venezuela and never has. We have our plans and projects to grow our economy both within the energy and non-energy sectors,” the Prime Minister said.
She criticised the previous PNM administration for “mistakenly” placing its hopes on the Dragon gas project with Venezuela, adding, “We have not done so, therefore we are not susceptible to any blackmail from the Venezuelans for political support.”
Persad-Bissessar said her government has not held energy discussions with Caracas since taking office and emphasised that Trinidad and Tobago maintains “peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people.” She stressed that ongoing joint training exercises with the United States military are “solely for improving our internal security.”
“No one, be it the Venezuelan government, CARICOM or any other entity, will pressure or blackmail my government into retreating from the fight against the drug cartels,” she said. “I am tired of seeing our citizens murdered and terrorized because of gang violence driven by illegal drugs and arms trafficking. Trinidad and Tobago citizens’ safety and happiness is my main concern.”
Rodríguez announced the suspension after the USS Gravely docked in Trinidad and Tobago, a visit Washington and Port of Spain have framed as part of routine cooperation.
The Dragon gas project—seen in recent years as a potential source of supply for Trinidad and Tobago’s LNG industry—has been complicated by shifting U.S. sanctions policy toward Venezuela.
