[UPDATED] Venezuela: Kamla's reaction to terrorist claim 'suspicious'

THE Venezuelan government has described Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's "irate and unjustified" reaction to its concerns about a group of terrorists allegedly entering its territory through Trinidad and Tobago as "suspicious."

The Venezuelan government warned Persad-Bissessar's statements could compromise TT-Venezuela relations.

At a post-cabinet news conference at the Red House on June 5, Persad-Bissessar said government had no evidence to substantiate the claim by the Venezuelan government. She also warned that any illegal incursion by any unidentified vessel into TT waters would be met with deadly force by local security forces.

In a statement on June 6, the Venezuelan government said it was surprised by the response from Persad-Bissessar to a legitimate complaint by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro about the entry of criminal elements from Trinidadian territory into Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government said, "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."

The Venezuelan government added, "The appropriate thing to do in the face of this serious situation is to offer co-operation and willingness to clarify the facts."

The Venezuelan government said Persad-Bissessar's "virulent and high sounding attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity with this incursion, and compromises the good relations that exist between our countries in fundamental areas."

Venezuela advised TT authorities "not to engage in geopolitical games that are alien to the interests of our peoples."

The Venezuelan government reaffirmed its commitment to peace, sovereignty and mutual respect.

It repeated, "Any legitimate concern must be channeled through diplomatic channels, not through threats or unfounded statements that only fuel artificial tensions."

The statement was issued on the Venezuelan government's Facebook page and on X.

On June 6, speaking on condition of anonymity, Venezuelan embassy officials said there had been no official communication as yet between ambassador Alvaro Cordero and any government official with respect to the matter.

They added the statement issued by their government was the only official comment they were prepared to make at the time.

On June 5, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge said he had not had any direct contact with any Venezuelan government officials on the matter.

He added Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers was liasing with TT Embassy officials in Caracas to speak with the Venezuelan authorities.

The ministry's official website lists former national security minister Edmund Dillon as TT's ambassador to Venezuela.

There was no confirmation as to whether Dillon was still serving in that post.

On June 5, Sturge said there was no fractious relationship between TT and Venezuela.

Persad-Bissessar, Sturge and Sobers were unavailable for comment on the Venezuelan government's statement on June 6.

Former prime ministers Dr Keith Rowley and Stuart Young, former foreign and caricom affairs minister Dr Amery Browne and former national security minister Gary Griffith have all suggested dialogue as the best way to resolve the issue.

History of co-operation between TT, V'zuela

Maduro visited TT in July 2013 as a special guest at a Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Port of Spain.

This meeting happened during Persad-Bissessar's first tenure as prime minister from May 24, 2010- September 7, 2015.

He subsequently visited TT in February 2015 and signed two energy agreements at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.

At that ceremony, Persad-Bissessar said, "While we already had agreements with respect to the Loran Manatee field, today we welcomed the signing of another agreement for exploitation and development of hydrocarbons in the Manakin Cocuina field, which extends across the lines between TT and Venezuela."

She added, "We also welcome the signing on energy sector co-operation between the two countries."

At that time, Persad-Bissessar said "this is the first time in the history of the western hemisphere there is commercialisation plans for cross-border reserves."

She added, "It is also the third time in the history of the world we are witnessing such co-operation."

The former PNM government negotiated with Venezuela for the separate development of Manatee and Shell took a final investment decision to proceed with this project last July. On June 5, Shell issued a notice of the continuation on Manatee.

Last July, government secured a 20-year licence from Venezuela for bpTT to exploit the Cocunia field on the Venezuela side of the unified one trillion cubic feet Cocuina/Manakin field of which bpTT already has an operatorship of the Manakin part lying in TT water.

On April 8, then prime minister Stuart Young announced the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had revoked licences issued for the Dragon and Manakin-Cocuina fields in Venezuela.

On May 3, Persad-Bissessar said TT would not pursue the Dragon project but explore initiatives in Grenada, Guyana and Suriname.

Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal recently returned from a series of meetings in Washington,DC. One of those meetings was with officials from OFAC.

This story was originally published with the title "Venezuela criticises Kamla's 'irate, unjustified' reaction to terrorist claims" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Venezuelan government has described Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's reaction to its concerns about a group of terrorists allegedly entering its territory through Trinidad and Tobago as "irate and unjustified."

The Venezuelan government warned Persad-Bissessar's statements could compromise TT-Venezuela relations.

At a post-cabinet news conference at the Red House on June 5, Persad-Bissessar said government has no evidence to substantiate this claim by the Venezuelan government. She also warned that any illegal incursion by any unidentified vessel into TT waters will be met with deadly force by local security forces.

In a statement on June 5, the Venezuelan government said it was surprised by this response from Persad-Bissessar to a legitimate complaint by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro about the entry of criminal elements from Trinidadian territory into Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government said, "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."

The Venezuelan government added, "The appropriate thing to do in the face of this serious situation is to offer cooperation and willingness to clarify the facts."

The Venezuelan government said Persad-Bissessar's "virulent and high sounding attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity with this incursion and compromises the good relations that exist between our countries in fundamental areas.

Venezuela advised TT authorities "not to engage in geopolitical games that are alien to the interests of our peoples."

The Venezuelan government reaffirmed its commitment to "peace, sovereignty and mutual respect."

The Venezuelan government repeated, "Any legitimate concern must be channeled through diplomatic channels, not through threats or unfounded statements that only fuel artificial tensions."