(Trinidad Express) National Security Minister and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, has reiterated Government’s commitment to respecting the sovereignty of Venezuela and said yesterday it continues to recognise Nicolas Maduro as the president of the troubled Latin American neighbour.
Addressing media at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference, Young again stated the T&T Government’s position that it has no intention of intervening in the situation next door, where Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself president.
The United States, United Kingdom, Spain, France and several South American countries have either expressed support for Guaidó who declared himself as President of Venezuela on Wednesday or declared Maduro’s leadership illegal. Russia, China, Cuba and Turkey are among the countries supporting him, while denouncing Wednesday’s development as a US-led coup.
“I have come here today to reiterate government’s position. This has been the government’s position from day one. The government’s position when it comes to matters of foreign policy, is we will not intervene nor will we interfere with what is going on with sovereign states,” Young said, noting that this is the position of Caricom.
Young, who said he was certain most local commentators are yet to read the constitution of Venezuela, said T&T would, however, be a willing facilitator of host of dialogue between the Venezuelan parties while not taking a side.
“At the end of the day, the Venezuelan people will decide,” he said. “We also call for calm for whatever it is worth. We hope that they can work things out via dialogue” he said, before adding that the government continues to decline any hardline solutions.
Addressing concern about a resulting increase in Venezuelan migrants through porous areas of T&T’s borders, Young said he has spoken with national security agencies.
“The borders have been made less porous and I want them even further secured,” he said, adding that a meeting will be held among national security operatives next week, specifically to address border security.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has also intensified operations on land, while the Coast Guard’s 14 interceptors will work at sea.
