By Staff Writer
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jun 9, CMC – St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is urging Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully and in line with international law, after both countries made contrasting statements regarding an alleged port to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro government in the South American country.
“All I would like to do is to urge both neighbours to continue to act peacefully in accordance with international law,” Gonsalves, one of the longest-serving leaders in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, warning against inflaming the situation with strong language.
“As far as practicable, we do not exacerbate the situation with any excessive rhetoric. We take our patience into account. And whatever the problem is, we solve them maturely between two neighbours,” said Gonsalves, a former Pro-Tempore president of the 33-member Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) that includes both Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
Last Friday, the Venezuelan government expressed “its profound surprise at the irate and unjustified reaction” of the Trinidad and Tobago government in response to what it termed as “ a legitimate complaint” by President Maduro about the attempts to overthrow his administration by mercenaries using Trinidad and Tobago.
“Venezuela has captured criminals of Trinidadian origin, who have confessed their plans, statements that have been duly supported with compelling evidence presented by the competent authorities,” Caracas said in a statement.
Last Thursday night, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said that it took “very seriously” threats being made by Venezuela to track down any person outside of the South American country in
She told a post-Cabinet news conference that she had also been aware of statements made by Venezuelan Justice Minister, Diosdado Cabello, that a Trinidad and Tobago national was involved in “terrorist activities” aimed at destabilising Venezuela earlier this week.
Cabello has since identified the Trinidadian national as “Gis Kendel Jheron,” and repeated accusations made by President Maduro that “terrorists,” including Colombians, had used Trinidad and Tobago as a launching pad in the bid to destabilise the Venezuelan government.
Cabello has vowed to pursue anyone attempting to destabilise Venezuela, saying, “There must be justice.
“We are going after the gangs, wherever they are. Together, we will guarantee peace in this country,” he said.
But Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told reporters that there was no evidence to support the comments made by Cabello, adding, “Today I want to make it very clear to the Venezuelan government and officials that they can do whatever they want on Venezuelan territory, but they cannot come here.
Trinidad and Tobago police say that the person named by Cabello had not appeared in the country’s criminal database.
Gonsalves said that while he is not ruling out intervening in the ongoing impasse between the two countries, he is nonetheless urging peace.
“Maybe not, maybe not as yet, but that’s why I’m urging peace and calm,” Gonsalves said, reaffirming CARICOM’s and the region’s broader commitment to peace.
“That would be what my broad position would do as someone who supports very much—and we all do, and CARICOM does, and so too does Venezuela—we support our region as a region of peace. We want to see good neighbourliness.
“If there is any challenge that arises, we should not interfere in the internal affairs of any other state. We should not bring any foreign power into this particular matter. This is a matter which we have to be careful that is not blown out of proportion,” Gonsalves told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barry Padarath, has come out in support of Prime Minister Persad Bissessar over what he described as her strong, bold, and courageous stance in the situation between the two countries.
“For 10 years, the PNM (People’s National Movement) pussyfooted around the President of Venezuela and the issues that surrounded Venezuela as they related to the hydrocarbon sector and the relationship that Tinidad and Tobago has with Venezuela, but also the relationship one of our major trading partners, the US, has with Venezuela.
“That is why I can say with certainty that all 26 members on the UNC (United National Congress) bench and the two members with the TPP (Tobago People’s Party) throw our full support behind the Honourable Prime Minister,” Padarath told reporters at Indian Arrival Day celebrations over the last weekend.
“Mrs. Persad-Bissessar has indicated to the national community that she has spoken to the law enforcement agencies. She does not have information that supports the claims and allegations that have been made.
“Therefore, in the absence of any cohesive information, she is within her right as the Prime Minister of a sovereign country to say that she will stand behind Trinidad and Tobago and she is prepared to protect the interests of Trinidad and Tobago regardless of where those interests may lie, whether in the sphere of national security or economic security,” said Padarath.
He told reporters that Prime Minister Persad Bissessar “has indicated, through her words and her actions, that she will not be bullied. She will not be silenced.
CMC/gf/ir/2025