Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has launched a scathing critique against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s conspicuous absence from an official press conference addressing escalating regional security tensions. The January 4 briefing, attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers and Housing Minister David Lee, occurred amid heightened geopolitical instability following the US military’s interception of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the positioning of American naval assets in the southern Caribbean, including radar installations within Trinidad and Tobago’s territory.
Beckles questioned the Prime Minister’s leadership through an online statement, asserting that the nation rightfully expected her presence during a period of international crisis. She characterized the government’s communication effort as fundamentally inadequate, noting that attending ministers appeared unprepared to address critical national security concerns. Instead, Beckles alleged, the conference devolved into discussions about Housing Development Corporation (HDC) matters—a diversion she labeled as frivolous political rhetoric.
The Opposition Leader detailed specific failures during the briefing, highlighting Minister Sobers’ contradictory statements regarding both the venue selection and his participation in the National Security Council. His assertion that the Prime Minister need not address the nation because ‘no one in Trinidad feels unsafe’ drew particular criticism from Beckles, who emphasized the public’s right to transparency regarding airport operations, flight disruptions, and security cordons in Port of Spain.
Beckles further challenged the government’s position on CARICOM relations, its engagement with the Tobago House of Assembly on security matters, and its adherence to international law under the UN Charter. The conference concluded abruptly when Minister Lee terminated the session without accommodating further media inquiries, leaving multiple questions about governmental coordination and leadership unanswered.
In her closing remarks, Beckles contrasted Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s absence with the public engagements of other world leaders, including Barbados’ Mia Mottley, Guyana’s Irfaan Ali, and former US President Donald Trump, questioning why Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership remained unavailable during a definitive moment for national and regional security.