A heated parliamentary debate unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago’s House of Representatives on November 28th as Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young launched a vigorous defense of Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles against government attempts to amend her private motion regarding US-Venezuela tensions in the Caribbean.
Young characterized the government’s actions as “cowardly behavior” designed to embarrass Beckles and deflect attention from their controversial foreign policy decisions. He expressed gratitude for Beckles’ “courage and fortitude” in bringing the motion forward while delivering scathing criticism of Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal’s attempted amendments, which he labeled as “immature and pathetic” political maneuvering.
The MP challenged the government to “face the motion in its original form” rather than engaging in what he described as political theater. Young revealed concerning developments in Trinidad and Tobago’s international relations, noting that conversations with CARICOM leaders indicated strained relationships due to the government’s support for US military deployment and rejection of the Caribbean’s traditional zone of peace principle.
Young emphasized Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to the UN Charter principles of non-intervention and peaceful negotiation, questioning when citizens had authorized the government to abandon these fundamental safeguards. He warned that the nation is entering “a very, very dark period” due to the government’s apparent obliviousness to global geopolitical realities, citing suspicious activity at Tobago’s airport as evidence of external influences contrary to official government statements.
The parliamentarian concluded that sophisticated diplomacy remains essential to protecting national sovereignty, suggesting current approaches are jeopardizing Trinidad and Tobago’s standing in the international community.