Moses: Rio Treaty could not stop Rodriguez's TT visit

TT did not support recent decisions taken under the Rio Treaty to curb the travel of Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, and so was not bound by them, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dennis Moses told the Senate on Tuesday.

He was replying to an Opposition motion on the adjournment.

Opposition Senator Anita Haynes noted Rodriguez’s visit to TT in March to meet the Prime Minister, which she said broke the treaty and endangered TT’s foreign and diplomatic relations with the US. She said an OAS and Rio Treaty meeting had imposed travel restrictions on the Maduro administration “to restore democracy and human rights in Venezuela.”

Haynes said, “Although TT was not present itself, the vote is binding on all signatories, including TT.”

Moses said TT was not bound by resolutions taken at a Rio Treaty meeting in New York City on September 23 last year, when16 nations backed punitive measures against Venezuela. Further, TT did not attend another Rio Treaty meeting on December 3 in Colombia which agreed for travel restrictions to be placed on Rodriguez.

Moses said despite difficulties in Venezuela, TT was on solid ground in recognising the Nicolas Maduro administration in line with the stance of both the UN and Caricom, rather than viewing Juan Guaido as leader of Venezuela.

“The distortion of the Rio Treaty, a collective self-defence pact, to treat with matters internal to Venezuela, without the consent or request of that country, is questionable and does not sit well with the intended purposes of the treaty.”

Moses said the treaty says its provisions do not impair the rights and obligations of the contracting parties under the UN Charter.

“TT takes the position that it is not bound by these recent decisions of the Rio Treaty, inclusive of the travel restrictions imposed on the vice president of Venezuela.”

Moses seemed to have run out of time and so cut short his explanation.