Kamla: Opposition recognises Guaidó as president

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday described the government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro as a "dictatorial government" and said the Opposition supported Juan Guaidó as interim president of the country until free and fair elections are held.

She was speaking on a private members' motion in the House.

She said there was a crisis in Venezuela "right on our doorsteps."

"There is a gathering storm in Venezuela with the build up of military powers in Venezuela."

She said there was talk of warships and planes coming from Iran and Russia and there was the continuing isolation of the Maduro government from the rest of the regional and international community. She recalled the Energy Minister previously said he was not aware of any humanitarian crisis in Venezuela but the Opposition condemned the human rights abuses and breaches of the rule of law and the democratic process.

Persad-Bissessar stressed a country's foreign policy must be guided by values and principles that are held there and the days were gone of non-intervention in this global environment.

"This hands-off approach can no longer work. And if it is we have value and principles for human rights and democratic processes and so on we must make that our foreign policy."

She said she shared the desire of the Venezuelan people for peace, democracy and free and fair elections and this was the only way to get revenue from the Dragon gas deal between TT and Venezuela.

"The actions of the Government, especially within the last day where they clearly aligned with the Maduro government, may well see us kiss the Dragon deal goodbye."