US visa fears is nonsense, says Trinidad Gov’t

(Trinidad Express) Talk by the Opposition United National Congress that Trinidadians holding US Visas should be fearful, is being rubbished by Communications Minister Stuart Young.

At the party national assembly in Couva on Sunday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said there were more than 200,000 Trinidad and Tobago citizens who hold United States visas and can be impacted by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s “not-so-veiled attack” on the United States over its stance on Venezuela.

However, Young said Government felt compelled to reassure citizens that the attempt to cause panic by the United National Congress and in particular Persad Bissesar, by creating fear about a change in relations between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America (USA) is unfounded “and a naked attempt to cover up the most recent overwhelming criticism of the Opposition”. 

In a statement, Young said: “We remind that CARICOM, and many other countries, took an identical position of non-interference and non-intervention with respect to Venezuela”.

He said that CARICOM has sent a delegation, including Rowley to the United Nations to have discussions surrounding the Venezuelan issue and its potential threat to regional security, social and economic disruption. 

“Notwithstanding efforts by the UNC to undermine Trinidad and Tobago’s position, particularly at this time of sensitive negotiations, Trinidad and Tobago reaffirms its principle positions and counts the USA among its treasured partners in observing and protecting these principles” said Young.