PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Friday said Trinidad and Tobago has to date received no communication from Venezuela more than a week after the United States decided to grant licenses to countries and companies to resume taking crude oil from Caracas on the condition no funds be paid to Venezuela.
Rowley told Parliament that apart from the statements he had made on January 24, when the United States Treasury Department agreed to grant a license to Port of Spain to develop a significant gas field located in Venezuelan territorial waters, there was little more to be said.
“Persons familiar with the oil industry, the gas industry, the energy business in Trinidad and Tobago will know that when I said we have to wait for the developments of the operator, in that case, Shell, to give us these details now that we can proceed in some way…I did indicate that there are some significant negotiations to take place.
“So the (opposition member, David Lee) asking about first gas is mischievous. We are not anywhere here talking about first gas. Madam Speaker and the member knows that. But having said that, this is a waste of time, and nothing good will come out of it (and) this question is in that mode,” Rowley said.
“I am afraid, Madam Speaker, I have no new information to add other than what I gave on the day I made that statement.”
But asked by Lee to indicate whether Venezuela has agreed to the terms and conditions outlined by Washington for granting the license, Prime Minister Rowley told legislators, “this matter requires the state to state communication, the first hurdle has been crossed, the government of Venezuela has made no public statement with specific to Trinidad and Tobago’s use of the OFAC license.
“Trinidad and Tobago is in touch with Venezuela, we have meetings scheduled and negotiations ahead of us, and therefore I can say nothing further at this time,” Rowley said
President Nicolas Maduro, in a broadcast on Thursday, remained critical of Washington’s decision to allow companies doing business with sanctioned Venezuelan state firms to pay cash to his administration.
“They tell a country it has permission to negotiate with Venezuela but cannot pay in dollars or any form of cash. It must pay with food or products,” Maduro said, adding, “that is colonialism.”
On January 24, the Trinidad and Tobago government welcomed the decision by the United States Treasury Department to grant a license to Port of Spain to develop a significant gas field located in Venezuelan territorial waters.
Venezuela has not said publicly if it will negotiate with Trinidad and Tobago, and Rowley acknowledged that while there is “still a lot more work to be done.”
The U.S. license means Trinidad and Tobago will be allowed to resume doing business with the Venezuelan heavily sanctioned state-run oil company PDVSA, even though the Maduro regime in Caracas will not be permitted to receive any cash payments from this project.
President Maduro’s broadcast on Thursday criticized the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which issued the licenses. It said it is trying to dictate how to do business with Venezuelan state and private companies.
“It is a joke to sovereign countries. I call on sovereign countries and governments in America and the Caribbean to denounce this colonial model. We do not accept it. We will go on our way,” he said, elaborating.
PDVSA has found reserves of 4.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in the Dragon field on the Venezuelan side of its maritime border with Trinidad. The project was headed for production over a decade ago but stalled over a lack of capital, partners, and sanctions.
Asked by the opposition whether he was aware of Maduro’s statement, Prime Minister Rowley replied, “I am sure the member is aware of what I just said, and he understands English.
“I said that concerning Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, I am not talking about the statement of President Maduro talking about the American’s behavior and colonialism. It was evident in how I chose my words. I do not wish the Member of Naparima to speak for me or to say what I did not say.
“I was obviously concerning Venezuela treating Trinidad and Tobago. The Venezuelan government has made no statement on this issue, which is very important. This eagerness for this to fail resides in the bosom of our members on the other side, and I will ask you to wait,” Rowley added.
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