Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has delivered a firm assurance that Trinidad and Tobago will not serve as a launch point for any United States military action against Venezuela.
Her comments came in response to a sharp critique from former prime minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who accused her administration of mishandling the nation’s position amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas. Speaking at a news conference at his Glencoe residence, Rowley voiced a series of concerns and observations about the unfolding regional situation—remarks that prompted swift rebuttals from Acting Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Barry Padarath and Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John.
- Advertisement -
Asked about Rowley’s criticism, Persad-Bissessar dismissed it as political noise. “As a citizen, he has the right to express his views. However, the facts remain,” she said.
She pointed to Rowley’s own record, noting that he signed an updated Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) last year while “entranced with former ambassador Candace Bond.” The agreement requires Trinidad and Tobago to cooperate with U.S. military training operations in the region.
With the USS Gerald R. Ford operating in the Caribbean Sea and U.S. Marines recently arriving in Trinidad and Tobago for joint exercises with the Defense Force, Persad-Bissessar sought to calm public fears about the possibility of U.S. military action being staged from local territory.
“The U.S. has NEVER requested the use of our territory to launch attacks against the people of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago territory will NOT be used for any such purpose,” she stated. “We are a sovereign nation. We do not blindly follow the U.S. or any bloc, including CARICOM. Our foreign policy is Trinidad and Tobago first.”
Quoting Lord Palmerston, she added: “We have no eternal allies and no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal, and those interests we must protect.”
Still, she acknowledged the country’s struggles with gun and drug trafficking and said her government will continue cooperating with international partners committed to combating these threats. But she stressed that such cooperation will not extend to any hostile action against Venezuela.
“Trinidad and Tobago will NOT participate in any act that brings harm to the Venezuelan people. We maintain peaceful relations and support the selection of leaders through free and fair democratic elections. Our citizens and infrastructure are NOT at risk—we are not participants in any aggression,” she said.
Padarath dismissed Rowley’s remarks as nothing more than a political “rant,” insisting the prime minister has been the most active government voice on relations with both the U.S. and Venezuela. He accused Rowley of seeking relevance during a political “silly season,” urging him to “take his own advice: drink your rum and get out of our face.”
Padarath further argued that Rowley’s newfound concerns about sovereignty ring hollow. “He didn’t object when he signed the SOFA under his administration. We haven’t amended it. Our position on the U.S. presence in the southern Caribbean is clear. We refuse to be lectured by a man who presided over record-high murder rates without lifting a finger to change that trajectory. This is pure mischief.”
Works Minister Jearlean John echoed the criticism. “Rowley has no relevance. Why doesn’t he find a hobby?” she said. “He was voted out—we beat him to a frazzle. He needs to go away, relax, and let the country move forward.”
