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.
Barbados Today December 21, 2020
SOURCE: CMC – The United States Embassy in Trinidad has stated that the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and those who back him must be blamed for the crisis facing the South American nation.
In a statement on Sunday, the Port of Spain based Embassy said the crisis is not due to sanctions – as there are no sanctions or restrictions on the importation of food and medicines to Venezuela.
“There are no sanctions or restrictions on the importation of food and medicines to Venezuela, while the Maduro regime uses its revenues to buy Russian weapons instead of food. The United States is the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance for the Venezuela regional crisis and has contributed more than US$1.2 billion to the cause since 2017 alone, including over US$11 million to support Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts in helping Venezuelans living in the country.”
US Embassy in Trinidad says Maduro to be blamed for crisis in Venezuela jamaicaobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jamaicaobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.
With Christmas just a few days away, executives of Patriotic Energies and Technologies Limited are waiting with bated breaths to see whether they will finally get acquisition of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery and port.
In an exclusive interview with Guardian Media, one of the company’s directors, Ozzi Warwick, said they had yet to hear from the government as to whether their acquisition bid was successful.
Asked whether he believed the acquisition process could be closed before Christmas Day, Warwick said they remained hopeful.
“We believe that just as Christmas is supposed to represent hope with the hope of Jesus Christ, the closing of the acquisition process for Patriotic to acquire the refinery, will provide hope for the people of T&T,” he said.