分类： politics

In response to escalating regional tensions following the US military intervention in Venezuela, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has implemented comprehensive security protocols to ensure national stability. The operation resulted in the apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores during early morning operations on January 3.

Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro confirmed through an official press release that law enforcement agencies are maintaining vigilant surveillance of developing situations. The TTPS has activated strategic operational measures designed to anticipate potential risks while maintaining public confidence during this period of geopolitical uncertainty.

Visible security enhancements include the cordoning of critical infrastructure areas in Port of Spain. Metal barricades now restrict access to the Police Administration Building at the intersection of Sackville and Edward Streets, demonstrating the force’s proactive approach to organizational readiness.

Police authorities emphasize that these measures represent precautionary steps rather than emergency responses. The implemented protocols aim to ensure service continuity and operational stability should regional developments directly impact Trinidad and Tobago.

Commissioner Guevarro reiterated the importance of public cooperation, stating: ‘Citizen vigilance coupled with responsible information sharing constitutes a fundamental component of national resilience.’ The public is encouraged to maintain calm, monitor official communication channels, and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies promptly.

Civil society organizations in Trinidad and Tobago are mobilizing for a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Port of Spain on January 4th, denouncing what they characterize as an illegal military intervention in Venezuela. The protest comes in response to US forces’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a large-scale operation on January 3rd.

Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) leader David Abdulah issued a forceful statement condemning the action as “a gross violation of national sovereignty” that contravenes international law and the UN Charter. The coalition labeled the operation “an act of imperialism” designed to assert US hegemony throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

The groups particularly criticized Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration for its alleged complicity in facilitating US military activities in the region. They pointed to several concerning developments: her government’s support for US military deployment in the Southern Caribbean initiated last August, establishment of a US radar system at Tobago’s ANR Robinson International Airport, and granting unlimited transit permissions to US military aircraft at Trinidad’s major airports.

While Persad-Bissessar asserted that Trinidad and Tobago is “not a participant in any of these ongoing military operations,” she reiterated her longstanding refusal to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. This position contrasts sharply with most CARICOM nations, which have collectively advocated for maintaining the Caribbean as a zone of peace and opposed US military action against alleged narco-trafficking operations.

The Prime Minister recently questioned CARICOM’s reliability as a security partner while affirming that the United States represents Trinidad and Tobago’s sole credible protector against external threats.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, United States military forces initiated a covert operation in Venezuela during the early hours of Saturday, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The intervention began with precision airstrikes targeting key Venezuelan military installations including La Guaira port, Higuerote airport, La Cariota airport, and the Fuerte Tiuna military complex. Notably, the country’s critical oil infrastructure remained untouched throughout the operation.

Eyewitnesses reported explosions illuminating the night sky over Caracas as military helicopters patrolled the capital. The strategic strikes appear to have served as a diversion for the primary objective: the extraction and detention of President Maduro, who was transported with his wife, Cilia Flores, to the USS Iwo Jima naval vessel.

The operation culminates years of mounting pressure on Maduro’s administration, which faced indictment by U.S. authorities in 2020 on multiple charges including corruption and drug trafficking. The State Department had previously offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

Following the military incursion, Attorney General Pam Bondi declared that Maduro would face ‘American justice on American soil in American courts.’ With Maduro’s capture, constitutional power has transferred to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was swiftly sworn in as interim leader.

The action represents a significant evolution from previous U.S. military interventions in the region, notably the 1989 Operation Just Cause in Panama which required several days to capture General Manuel Noriega. That operation drew widespread international condemnation and resulted in substantial civilian casualties.

This intervention occurs against the backdrop of a newly articulated ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine, which advances a doctrine of American preeminence and flexible realism as pillars of foreign policy. During a recent press conference, President Trump explicitly connected the operation to Venezuela’s substantial oil reserves, suggesting the newly installed leadership would cooperate with U.S. economic interests.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced his intention to seek bilateral discussions with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar regarding outstanding compensation commitments for victims of the CLICO and BAICO insurance collapses. The meeting is anticipated to occur during the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for February in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The insurance crisis originated in 2009 when Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), a Trinidad-based financial conglomerate with diversified interests across energy, beverages, and construction, experienced severe liquidity problems following the global financial crisis. The subsequent collapse affected thousands of policyholders throughout the Eastern Caribbean region, with many investors losing substantial portions of their life savings and investments.

According to Prime Minister Browne, the Trinidad and Tobago government had previously pledged US$100 million toward a regional relief initiative but has only disbursed approximately 40% of this commitment to date. “With the commitment that was made, we still have a significant amount outstanding,” Browne stated, emphasizing the ongoing financial hardship faced by hundreds of affected residents in his nation and thousands more throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

Browne expressed optimism about the prospects for resolution, noting that Persad-Bissessar’s previous administration had demonstrated serious intent to address the matter. “I am very thankful that her administration had shown seriousness about the issue in the past,” he remarked. “From this standpoint, I hope she remains consistent and we can bring further relief to the CLICO-BAICO situation.”

While some regional governments have negotiated partial settlements and implemented restructuring measures over the past decade, many policyholders continue to await full recovery of their funds. Browne has vowed to continue advocating for affected citizens and expects Trinidad and Tobago, as the home jurisdiction of the failed insurance conglomerate, to honor its financial commitments in full.

The Venezuelan diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago has responded with both celebration and concern following the unprecedented US military operation that resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd. US President Donald Trump confirmed at a Mar-a-Lago press conference that a “large-scale strike” had been executed, resulting in Maduro and his wife being transported to the United States to face criminal charges.

Trump announced that the United States would temporarily administer Venezuela through an unspecified group while explicitly stating his intention to access the country’s substantial oil reserves. He outlined plans for US oil companies to invest billions in rebuilding Venezuela’s energy infrastructure with the goal of exporting “large amounts of oil to other countries.”

Former photojournalist Grevic Alvarado expressed cautious optimism, describing Maduro’s removal as “the first step towards freedom” while acknowledging concerns about family members remaining in Venezuela. “We are hopeful, but at this moment we need to understand what is happening,” Alvarado stated, emphasizing the need for calm until more information becomes available from US authorities and Venezuelan opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González.

Human rights activist Yesenia González characterized the development as “a very happy and emotional day” for Venezuelans who have endured years of economic collapse, shortages of basic necessities, and political repression. While not celebrating violence, she expressed hope for national renewal, institution rebuilding, and the eventual return of millions of displaced Venezuelans.

González specifically thanked Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for supporting US actions and praised Trump’s leadership, asserting that a “free, stable and democratic Venezuela” would benefit both Venezuelans and the broader region by reducing forced migration and fostering cooperation.

However, dissenting voices emerged from within Venezuela. Political analyst Jesús Enrique Rojas described the atmosphere as “tense” following what he called a “big surprise” that sparked widespread indignation. Rojas reported civilian and military casualties from the strikes and emphasized that neither the public nor Vice President Delcy Rodríguez knew Maduro’s precise whereabouts or condition.

Rojas condemned the operation as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, warning that installing an opposition figure like Machado could trigger civil war. He insisted that constitutional protocols must be followed, with Vice President Rodríguez assuming leadership pending Maduro’s return or a Supreme Court decision regarding new elections.

The professor called for unified action among Venezuelans to restore their democratically elected leader and normalcy to the nation, asserting that “We decide who is going to be our President because we have our own laws.”