PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The prominent opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has described as “unfortunate, reckless and sinister” the statement by the government of Trinidad and Tobago 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”.
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.”
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”.
However, Browne said he is aware that efforts are being made to convene a meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) 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” indicated 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 have 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, addinng “it is miserable and I have to say sinister because even as the prime minister was releasing that statement 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,” Browne said.
The 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, has not addressed the matter. At the same time, the governments of Guyana and Barbados 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 P-8 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 about 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 to be one thing there should be no doubt about.
“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 primary force determining the country’s future.
“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 minister 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, adding “in reality what thse 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”.
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