[UPDATED] PM prepared to lead Dragon talks with Venezuela

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has disclosed that the UNC had been working to find a way to resurrect the Dragon gas project shortly after it won the April 28 general election.

She also said she is prepared to lead negotiations and, if need be, travel to Venezuela with respect to resurrecting the project. Persad-Bissessar made these statements at a news conference at Piarco International Airport shortly after she returned home from the US on October 1.

After a meeting between herself and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the US State Department in Washington, DC on September 30, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the US State Department issued separate statements to announce agreement had been reached with respect to continuing TT-Venezuela cross border energy initiatives which began under the former PNM administration.

Persad-Bissessar said, “From day one when we came into office, we began work on that OFAC licence (for Dragon).”

She added, “We had discussions further with Secretary Rubio on other fields – Loran/Manatee and Cocuina-Manakin.”

Revelations that the UNC was quietly working resurrecting the cross border hydrocarbon projects, shortly after the general elections, contrasts sharply with the PM’s public statement on May 6 – after the swearing-in of government ministers at President’s House – that the Dragon gas deal was dead and, “we will be foolish not to look elsewhere.”

She added: “That is dead. The PNM kept it alive for ten years and if you couldn’t do it in ten years, you cannot possibly do it now.”

At that time, Persad-Bissessar said she had discussions with Rubio about the energy sector but there were no discussions about the Dragon gas project.

She did not comment on Wednesday evening on Rubio’s position, as outlined in the State Department’s release, about steps being taken to ensure the Dragon gas project does not benefit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government.

“In terms of Venezuela, the projects benefit Venezuela. They benefit the US and they benefit TT,” Persad-Bissessar said.

She said either Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers or Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal could lead TT’s energy talks with Venezuela. But Persad-Bissessar added, “Of course, you also have me.”

She said she had only just returned home and would need time to breathe before deciding if she flies to Caracas to lead talks about Dragon.

Persad-Bissessar also disclosed that Moonilal and Sobers have been in contact with their counterparts in the Venezuelan government with respect to Dragon.

She expressed confidence that Venezuela would open fresh negotiations with TT, despite TT’s support for the US military deployment in the southern Caribbean Sea, outside of Venezuelan territorial waters.

“We have always maintained solidarity with the people of Venezuela.”

Persad-Bissessar said government had scored many “big wins” during its recent engagements in the US and more details will be provided to the public in due course. Asked if she recognises Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, Persad-Bissessar said this question does not arise. In a post on X, on October 2, Rubio repeated the US’ position on Maduro saying, “Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government.”

Rubio also repeated the US’ claim that Maduro “is the head of the Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organisation which has taken possession of a country.” Rubio said Maduro “is under indictment for pushing drugs into the US.”

On whether discussions for the OFAC licence for Dragon would influence the 2025/2026 budget, Persad-Bissessar indicated the budget will be presented soon. She said Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo and others were working on the budget.

This story has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she is prepared to lead negotiations in Venezuela with respect to resurrecting the Dragon gas project. She said the UNC had been working to find a way to breathe life into the Dragon shortly after it won the April 28 general election.

Persad-Bissessar made these statements at a news conference at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport, when she returned home from the US on October 1.

After a meeting between Persad-Bissessar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the US State Department on September 30, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the State Department issued separate statements to announce an agreement had been reached with respect to continuing TT-Venezuela cross-border energy initiatives.

The OPM statement said after the meeting, government was informed that Rubio "supports the approval of the relevant Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licences to begin discussions toward developing its cross-border hydrocarbons." OFAC falls under the US Treasury Department.

A subsequent statement issued by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio "outlined US support for the government’s Dragon gas proposal and steps to ensure it will not provide significant benefit to the (Venezuelan President Nicholas) Maduro regime."

Persad-Bissessar said either Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers and Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal could lead TT's energy talks with Venezuela, but she was also available.

"Of course, you have me," she said.

She said she had only just returned to TT, and would need time to breathe before deciding if she flies to Venezuela to talk about the Dragon. Persad-Bissessar also disclosed Moonilal and Sobers had been in contact with their counterparts in the Venezuelan government with respect to Dragon.

Persad-Bissessar said, "In terms of Venezuela, the projects benefit Venezuela. They benefit the US and they benefit TT."

She expressed confidence Venezuela would negotiate with TT, despite TT's support for the US military deployment in the southern Caribbean Sea, outside of Venezuelan territorial waters.

"We have always maintained solidarity with the people of Venezuela."

Persad-Bissessar said government scored many "big wins" during its recent engagements in the US and more details will be provided to the public in due course.

She said, "From day one when we came into office, we began work on that OFAC licence."

She added, "We had discussions further with Secretary Rubio on other fields, Loran/Manatee field and Cocuina-Manakin.

After a ministerial swearing-in ceremony at President’s House, St Ann’s on May 6 , Persad-Bissessar had said the Dragon gas deal was dead and “we will be foolish not to look elsewhere.”

She added,”That is dead. The PNM kept it alive for ten years and if you couldn’t do it in ten years, you cannot possibly do it now.”