US 'deeply concerned' over TT supporting Maduro

The United States finds TT’s support of Nicolas Maduro as President of Venezuela “deeply concerning.”

In a release today, US Ambassador Joseph Mondello reiterated the US’s position that leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Juan Guaido, who declared himself the country’s interim President at a rally on Tuesday, to be the legitimate leader of the South American nation.

“Democracy and prosperity require tough choices,” Mondello said. He maintained that he and the “entire US Embassy are committed to maintaining mutually beneficial bilateral relations with the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago."

The following is the full text of Mondello’s statement:

"Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaido and the democratically elected National Assembly have the full recognition and resolute support of the United States of America and the majority of democracies in the Western Hemisphere. I find the official statements from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago recognising the undemocratic and illegitimate government of Nicholas Maduro to be deeply concerning.

Democracy and prosperity require tough choices.

I and the entire U.S. Embassy are committed to maintaining mutually beneficial bilateral relations with the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago."