Trinidad and Tobago’s main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has described as “unfortunate, reckless and sinister” the statement by the government supporting the decision of the United States to deploy “military assets” into the Caribbean region to destroy what it described as “the terrorist drug cartels”.
The country’s former foreign affairs minister, Dr Amery Browne, told a news conference that the statement made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar that Port of Spain has “not engaged and has no intention of engaging” the 15-member regional integration grouping Caricom “on this matter” is “unfortunate”.
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The government said that on this matter, each Caricom member state “can speak for themselves” and that “Trinidad and Tobago has been helplessly drowning in blood and violence for the last 20 years”.
But Browne said he is aware that efforts are being made to convene a meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) so as to present a united Caricom position on the matter.
“Look how the prime minister dismissed Caricom in her statement…and this is extremely unfortunate,” said Browne, noting that in the quasi Caricom cabinet, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar has responsibility for security in the region.
“That is a repudiation of her duties and responsibilities to our regional community,” he said, adding that the prime minister had also “boldly, recklessly and completely out of place” indicating that each member state can speak for itself.
“In other words, every country for itself. Who is she to make such a statement, especially when we in this country has worked so hard to uplift and build the profile of the very same Caricom and we have always taken our responsibilities very seriously.
“We, as an opposition have to condemn in the very clearest possible terms those words and the disregard the prime minister of this nation is showing to the Caribbean Community,” Browne said.
“It is really unfortunate and I have to say sinister because even as that statement was being released by the prime minister there are efforts underway to mobilise Caricom to examine these very issues towards building a consensus.
“So what was done there over 24 hours ago is to fire a shot across the bow of Caricom solidarity and literally sabotaged our region’s ability to form a consensus and craft a united position.”
The 15-member regional integration movement, Caricom, has not issued any statement on the matter, while Guyana and Barbados governments have reiterated the need for the region to be a zone of peace.
Last week, the United States ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.
A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser are also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.
Browne told reporters he was also concerned at the response of Trinidad and Tobago to a statement made last week when United States Vice President James D Vance, in speaking about crime in his country, referenced Trinidad and Tobago as an example.
Browne quoted Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister, Sean Sobers, as saying he believes that Vance was speaking about “the PNM Trinidad and Tobago.
“ Now what is that. That is a serious comment from a government cabinet minister…there is no such thing as the Trinidad and Tobago of the PNM…we have one nation here, Browne said, adding “when serious countries engage with us or reference us, they are engaging with the state and not any political party.
“So leave those references to our domestic discourse and engaging with others there is no PNM or UNC (United National Congress) Trinidad and Tobago”.
Browne was also critical of the statements made by Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to Caricom, Ralph Maraj, who in supporting Washington’s move, said “the sovereign will of Venezuelans must be restored.
“However this unfolding situation off the coast of Venezuela turns out, of one thing there should be no doubt.
“The will and welfare of the people of Venezuela must be restored. Their freedom and democracy must be returned,” Maraj said, adding that ”their suffering must end and the almost eight million citizens who have fled their homeland must be allowed to resume their lives.
“The people must have the chance to share in the prosperity and opportunities provided by their nation. The sovereign will of Venezuelans must be restored to become the major force determining the future of their nation.
“These are the critical issues in this scenario before us for most right-thinking people in the region and beyond,” said Maraj, a former foreign affairs ministers here.
Browne said Maraj “spoke in some detail about regime change” in Caracas.
‘Very unusual …he is not talking about Caricom he is talking about regime change in a sovereign state,” Browne said.
“In reality what these three officers of Trinidad and Tobago have been doing is making a mockery of generations of hard work that has gone into crafting and building a credible and respected foreign policy for this our beloved nation”. CMC
