CARACAS, Venezuela – The Venezuela government Friday 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 Nicolas Maduro about the attempts to overthrow his administration by mercenaries using Trinidad and Tobago.
President Nicolas Maduro“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.
On 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 involved in attempts to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro government.
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 destabilizing 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 destabilize the Venezuelan government.
Cabello has vowed to pursue anyone attempting to destabilize Venezuela, saying “there must be justice.
“We are going after the gangs, wherever they are and 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.
“TNT territory is off limit to them. If Mr. Cabello’s comments are a veil threat to enter TNT territory, they should reconsider any such intention,” Persad Bissessar said, adding “the fact is as a responsible government we have to take all threats against any incursion into or territory seriously”.
She said also that no amount of rhetoric from the Maduro government “will drive any wedge between this UNC-led government and the US government.
“We stand solidly with the American government on the issues concerning Venezuela. That will not change. We want no part of the Venezuelan government’s interior political gimmickry. We are peaceful neighbors, let us leave it at that, “Persad Bissessar told reporters.
In the statement, Venezuela said “the appropriate thing to do in the face of this serious accusation is to offer cooperation and willingness to clarify the facts.
“The Prime Minister’s virulent and high-sounding attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity with this incursion and compromises the good relations of cooperation that exists between our countries in fundamental areas”.
Venezuela said it is urging the new administration in Port of Spain, not to engage “in geopolitical games that are alien to the interests of our peoples, and re-affirms its commitment to peace, sovereignty and mutual respect recalling that any legitimate concern must be channeled through diplomatic channels, not through threats or unfounded statements that only fuel artificial tensions”.
Earlier, former prime minister Dr. Keith Rowley said he is urging the Trinidad and Tobago government not to abandon diplomacy in the current situation with Venezuela, reminding the administration that the country’s gas fields are 60 miles out at sea.
He questioned whether “the Prime Minister really believe that we can adequately defend those operations, with force, against a highly militarized neighbor like Venezuela?
“To throw down a “deadly force” gauntlet to Venezuela can only be viewed as “powerful stupid“ and an unnecessary burning of our bridges with a friendly neighbor, in a thinly veiled attempt to curry favor abroad.
“What happened to standard diplomacy, fact finding and common sense in handling sensitive matters of this nature?,” Rowley asked, noting that “the fact that we have “no information“ about insurgents or any bad actors using our territory against another is no basis to be so belligerently dismissive of any allegations made by any of our neighbors. Ignorance is never a solid basis on which to approach any issue”.
During the post-cabinet news conference on Thursday night, Defence Minister, Wayne Sturge, acknowledged that no official contact had been made with the Venezuelan authorities regarding the claim that Port of Spain had been used by the “hitmen” to destabilize the administration in Caracas.”.
