Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has firmly defended her courtesy meeting with Venezuelan Ambassador Alvaro Sanchez Cordero, asserting that the engagement was both appropriate and coordinated through official channels. The meeting, which took place on October 30, was arranged following a letter from Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs dated October 28. Beckles emphasized that the encounter was brief, lasting only 15 minutes, and focused on expressing appreciation for her party’s support for Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, as declared by CELAC in 2014. She also clarified that similar courtesy calls have been arranged with envoys from Ireland, India, Palestine, Cuba, and Japan, all facilitated by the ministry. Beckles dismissed accusations of unpatriotic behavior, stating, ‘I hope that clears up the misconception that you are going against the government and not being patriotic.’ The opposition leader also criticized Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for labeling the meeting as a ‘huge mistake’ and accusing her of siding with a ‘narco government.’ Beckles called these remarks ‘reckless’ and ‘calculated to cause mischief,’ particularly given the timing amid budget discussions. She further highlighted the Venezuelan National Assembly’s recent declaration of Persad-Bissessar as persona non grata, stressing that her meeting with Cordero was unrelated to this development. Beckles also warned that the impending presence of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier in the region could deter foreign investment in Trinidad and Tobago. She urged the government to prioritize regional integration, citing concerns over trade rifts with Caricom countries and the recent hike in excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products.