分类： politics

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has explicitly stated that Trinidad and Tobago maintains no involvement in the United States’ recently announced naval blockade targeting Venezuelan oil tankers. The Caribbean leader emphasized that her nation’s partnership with the US strictly focuses on domestic security concerns rather than international sanctions enforcement.

Speaking to journalists following a funeral service in Petit Valley on December 17, Persad-Bissessar clarified her government’s position: “TT is about TT first. Our partnership with the US is about TT safety and security here. Those are issues for the Trump administration and for the US. TT is no part of that blockade.”

The Prime Minister’s comments came shortly after President Donald Trump declared the blockade via social media platform X, citing Venezuela’s designation as a “foreign terrorist organization” due to alleged asset theft, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking activities.

Despite distancing herself from the Venezuela blockade, Persad-Bissessar expressed satisfaction with the US security partnership’s outcomes, noting a reduction of 240 murders compared to the previous year and recent drug seizures exceeding $200 million value. These successes, attributed to advanced radar technology deployed in Tobago, form the basis of the government’s continued cooperation with US anti-narcotics operations.

The Venezuelan government has vehemently condemned Trump’s blockade announcement, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López dismissing the statements as “delusional” and accusing the US of attempting to control Venezuela’s natural resources. “It’s not about narcoterrorism,” López asserted. “It’s all about the oil.”

International support for Venezuela has emerged from multiple nations including Russia, China, Cuba, Colombia, and Iran. The Iranian government characterized the blockade as “state piracy and armed robbery at sea,” while Russia warned of potential unprecedented consequences for the Western Hemisphere.

Diplomatic efforts are underway to mitigate tensions, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urging UN intervention and offering Mexico as neutral ground for potential US-Venezuela negotiations. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva similarly advocated for dialogue between the nations.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reinforced her country’s position via Telegram, emphasizing that Venezuela’s energy resources would never again be controlled by foreign powers: “We will never again be an energy colony of anyone or any foreign power that dreams of stealing our riches.”

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a heartfelt tribute to former UNC senator Dr. Daphne Phillips-Gaskin during her funeral service on December 17 at the Trinidadian Christian Centre in Petit Valley, commemorating the life and contributions of the 82-year-old public servant who passed away on December 3.

In her eulogy, Persad-Bissessar characterized Phillips-Gaskin as both a distinguished scholar and devoted public servant who operated consistently according to conscience and principle. The Prime Minister reflected on their shared journey in national leadership, noting how Phillips-Gaskin remained steadfastly at her side ‘like a sister’ throughout their political careers.

Phillips-Gaskin’s remarkable trajectory began in Belmont, where she developed early foundations in compassion through her training as a nurse and midwife. Her academic pursuits at the University of the West Indies, culminating in a doctoral scholarship in sociology, profoundly shaped her commitment to gender equality and community empowerment.

As a senior lecturer, Phillips-Gaskin maintained that education carried inherent obligations—believing knowledge should fundamentally uplift and strengthen communities. This philosophy guided her transition into government service, where she served as senator and Cabinet Minister during the 1995-2001 UNC administrations.

Persad-Bissessar highlighted Phillips-Gaskin’s pioneering work in shaping a more humane national agenda, particularly noting her bravery in challenging political norms. ‘Some of the men did not have the belly to do what she did back in the days,’ the Prime Minister remarked, acknowledging the additional barriers faced by women in leadership during that era.

Phillips-Gaskin’s legacy includes substantial advancements in gender policy, strengthened protections against domestic violence, and championing family law reform. Her leadership enabled thousands of women to gain skills, training, and employment opportunities through programs grounded in her belief in their capacity for self-sufficiency.

In November 2000, Phillips-Gaskin assumed the responsibility of acting Prime Minister, discharging her duties with what Persad-Bissessar described as ‘calm authority and restraint.’ Her loyalty to the UNC remained principled and enduring, demonstrated notably during a critical moment in 2010 when she stood publicly with the Prime Minister at personal cost.

The Prime Minister concluded that Phillips-Gaskin’s legacy endures through the laws she shaped, the women she empowered, the families she protected, and the exemplary standards she established for public service.

The Trump administration is facing severe criticism for its foreign policy approach toward Venezuela while simultaneously grappling with domestic political challenges. A recent editorial letter questions the moral authority of the United States in international affairs, particularly regarding naval operations that critics have characterized as acts of piracy without substantial evidence of wrongdoing.

The correspondence highlights a concerning shift in global perception, noting that the United States has transitioned from being regarded as a champion of legal order to being perceived as an unpredictable actor that other nations increasingly hesitate to trust. This erosion of international confidence comes amid growing domestic pressures for the administration.

President Trump, who campaigned on explicit promises to immediately address inflation upon taking office, now confronts polling data and electoral results indicating significant potential losses in upcoming mid-term elections. Political analysts suggest these losses could include Democratic control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, which would likely initiate investigations into numerous controversial actions by the administration.

The editorial further suggests that the president may be attempting to redirect public attention from domestic controversies, including the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal and worsening affordability crisis for American households. While some Republican legislators have demonstrated independence regarding the Epstein documents, questions remain about whether congressional Republicans would intervene to prevent potential military engagement with Venezuela—a conflict that critics fear might be pursued for political diversion and the expanded executive powers typically afforded during wartime.

The Chinese government has formally released its latest Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, marking the third comprehensive strategic document outlining Beijing’s vision for enhanced cooperation with the region. Released on December 10, this policy framework builds upon previous achievements while charting an ambitious course for future collaboration between China and LAC nations.

As fellow members of the Global South, China and LAC countries have cultivated increasingly robust ties despite geographical separation. The relationship has gained significant momentum since the formal establishment of the China-CELAC Forum in 2015, which provided an institutional foundation for structured cooperation. The relationship reached new heights during the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum held in Beijing this past May, where President Xi Jinping introduced five pivotal programs: Solidarity, Development, Civilization, Peace, and People-to-People Connectivity.

The policy emphasizes mutual respect and equality as cornerstone principles. Both parties maintain independent foreign policies while demonstrating steadfast support for each other’s core interests and major concerns. This includes firm opposition to power politics and interference in internal affairs, with the vast majority of LAC countries adhering to the one-China principle. China has committed to advancing the Global Governance Initiative through enhanced dialogue among governments, political parties, and legislative bodies.

Economic cooperation has yielded remarkable results, with bilateral trade reaching an unprecedented $518.4 billion in 2024 and Chinese foreign direct investment stock exceeding $600 billion. The Belt and Road Initiative has gained substantial traction, with over twenty regional nations including Trinidad and Tobago participating. Infrastructure development has flourished, with Chinese enterprises securing contracts worth more than $300 billion, including landmark projects such as Trinidad’s Phoenix Park Industrial Estate and Peru’s Chancay Port.

The policy identifies numerous areas for expanded collaboration, including infrastructure, trade, finance, agriculture, food security, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and climate change mitigation. China also plans to strengthen ties with regional organizations including CELAC, Caricom, and ACS while enhancing cooperation in law enforcement, anti-corruption, cybersecurity, and transnational crime prevention.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges represent another vital dimension of the relationship. Confucius Institutes and classrooms have proliferated throughout the region, while cultural appreciation continues to grow bilaterally. China has provided 17,000 government scholarships and approximately 13,000 training opportunities for LAC nationals, with commitments to expand these programs significantly.

The comprehensive policy framework demonstrates China’s commitment to building what it characterizes as “a shared future” with LAC nations, emphasizing mutual development, prosperity, and enhanced South-South cooperation. China positions this policy as a new beginning for practical cooperation aligned with development strategies such as Trinidad and Tobago’s Revitalization Blueprint, aiming to establish new benchmarks for international development partnership.