Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, at his meeting with His Excellency Carlos Amador Perez Silva, the Venezuelan Ambassador, today (Monday 21 December 2020). Image courtesy Office of the Prime Minister.
Security, immigration and COVID-19 were on the agenda when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley met with Venezuelan Ambassador Carlos Amador Perez Silva this morning at the Diplomatic Centre.
The meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne, Minister of National Security and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young and Ricardo Sánchez, Chief of the Consular Section of the Venezuelan Embassy, came after weeks of scrutiny of Trinidad and Tobago’s handling of Venezuelan migrants, particularly amid reports that several Venezuelan migrants drowned in a boat headed to T&T from Guiria.
RADHICA DE SILVA
MP for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal believes the summoning of the Venezuelan ambassador by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is an unprecedented move, which will not auger well for T&T’s diplomatic relations.
Last week, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to T&T, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to a meeting to discuss recent developments concerning both countries and Trinidad and Tobago’s position on those issues.
Guardian Media understands the meeting, which is scheduled for today, Monday 21 December 2020, will be a face-to-face event between both men, rather than virtual.
Speaking with Guardian Media during a drive-by toy drive held in Esperance Village, San Fernando on Saturday, Dr Moonilal condemned Dr Rowley, saying he was surprised that the Prime Minister as the head of government was summoning the Venezuelan ambassador.
Screen grabs of Venezuelan nationals demonstrating outside the T&T Embassy in Washington, USA, last week.
A group of Venezuelans who protested outside Trinidad and Tobago’s Embassy in Washington last Friday have noted “accidents” happening between T&T and Venezuela – but they said their protest was really to get T&T’s Government to stop “supporting” the Nicolas Maduro administration.
The Washington protest last week was the latest against T&T. Three others were staged last week outside of T&T’s Embassy in Caracas, where some Venezuelans in those groups blamed T&T for the recent drowning of about 29 Venezuelans. Their boat capsized seven miles off the Venezuelan coastal town of Guiria as they were heading to this country illegally. The vessel left Venezuela on December 6. Venezuelan investigations were subsequently launched regarding a trafficking ring.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, at his meeting with His Excellency Carlos Amador Perez Silva, the Venezuelan Ambassador, today (Monday 21 December 2020). Image courtesy Office of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley met with His Excellency Carlos Amador Perez Silva, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Diplomatic Centre today (Monday 21 December 2020).
Last week, the Prime Minister had requested the meeting with Ambassador Silva, to discuss recent developments concerning both countries and Trinidad and Tobago’s position on those issues.
Today’s meeting between the two men focused on issues related to national security, immigration, and COVID-19.
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