Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago has issued a stark warning to her nation about the dangers of fake news, which she claims is being used to disrupt ongoing efforts to combat narco-trafficking and organized crime. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Persad-Bissessar shared a video clip featuring US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who vehemently denied a CNN report alleging that the UK had ceased sharing specific intelligence with the US. This intelligence pertains to anti-drug missile strikes that have reportedly killed nearly 70 people since September 2.
Persad-Bissessar emphasized the importance of verifying information, stating, ‘Once again, US Secretary of State @SecRubio has refuted a false report published in the international media – a story that was irresponsibly repeated by some local outlets and presented to our citizens as fact.’ She reaffirmed her government’s commitment to collaborating with the US in a coordinated effort to curb the influx of drugs, firearms, and human trafficking into Trinidad and Tobago.
The Prime Minister also diverged from her Caricom counterparts by asserting that the Caribbean cannot be considered a zone of peace until decisive measures are taken to eradicate the illegal drug trade. ‘The Caribbean cannot be called a zone of peace – and TT will not be one – so long as powerful cartels continue to wreak havoc and destroy lives,’ she declared. Persad-Bissessar vowed to continue strengthening national security systems in partnership with the US to ensure the safety and security of her nation.
In a press briefing on November 12, Rubio addressed the CNN report, labeling it as ‘false’ and ‘fake.’ He criticized the sources cited in the article, accusing them of having hidden agendas. ‘What’s happening is people with a business card with a government e-mail on it becomes sources – but they’re not even in the know, they have an agenda or want to make themselves important,’ Rubio stated. He also accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading a narco-terrorist regime that supplies illegal drugs to the US and Europe, suggesting that Europe should be grateful for US efforts to combat this threat.