Trinidad and Tobago's absence at OAS vote on Venezuela hopeful sign

THE EDITOR: TT’s decision last week to absent itself from voting on an OAS resolution on the July 28 election in Venezuela suggests a belatedly, badly needed, nuanced, growing and greatly welcomed sophistication in our diplomatic efforts

The resolution was one vote short of passing in the 35-member regional body.

It called on Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to “publish immediately voting results for each polling station” at the election for conducting a comprehensive verification exercise of the results in the presence of observers, and for the right of Venezuelans to demonstrate without reprisals.

Had TT voted in support of the resolution, Venezuela would have been greatly annoyed, putting at risk our cross-border gas arrangements with that country.

A vote against would have drawn the ire of the US, who has the last say on the success of Venezuela/TT gas agreements, is our largest trading partner, and has since recognised an Opposition victory in the elections.

An abstention would have displeased both parties.

TT along with Dominica, Mexico and St Vincent and the Grenadines chose not to be present for the vote.

Wednesday’s seeming sophistication at the OAS contrasts with our past history of taking sides and not giving due recognition to a more nuanced diplomacy, better placing us in a position to be an honest broker.

Years ago the UNC cautioned Dr Rowley about his uncritical and well publicised support for President Maduro when in 2017 he pointedly criticised Luis Almagro, OAS general secretary, for his stance against Maduro. In diplomacy silence, oftentimes, is golden.

I am again advising Rowley to have off-ramp discussions with Venezuela’s opposition, even using the US or others as interlocutors. This to guard against unlikely but not inconceivable changes in Venezuela’s government. A new administration in Venezuela may very well decide not to honour past agreements with TT.

Off-ramp discussions are a norm in global diplomacy.

The US, engaged as it is in a proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, was still able to negotiate and finalise an exchange of prisoners.

TT has to up its diplomatic game on this Venezuelan issue given the stakes involved, including increased migration, transnational crime involving gangs from both countries and the revenues “up in the air” from cross-border gas arrangements.

We must be holding bilateral and other discussions with Venezuela, the US, the EU, Brazil, Guyana, Colombia and within Caricom which is currently badly divided on Venezuelan election issues. Like Dr Eric Williams with the Cuban missile crisis, we must, difficult as it must be, seek a Caricom consensus to enhance our chances of being heard.

TT should even be leveraging its current presidency of the UN General Assembly in support of our efforts to remain on top of our game on this Venezuelan issue.

We cannot afford to let events pass us by.

RODNEY CHARLES

Naparima MP