分类： politics

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago has firmly denied claims that the United States has sought to use the country’s territory to launch attacks against Venezuela. Addressing concerns raised by former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, Persad-Bissessar emphasized that Trinidad and Tobago would not permit its land to be used for such purposes. Rowley had warned of potential economic and security risks stemming from what he termed reckless governance and ill-informed decisions by the current administration. Persad-Bissessar dismissed these concerns, asserting that Rowley’s remarks were unfounded and that he had every democratic right to express his views. She highlighted that Rowley, during his tenure, had signed an updated Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US in 2024, which mandates cooperation with the US military in regional training exercises. However, she reiterated that Trinidad and Tobago remains a sovereign state, guided by a ‘TT first’ foreign policy approach, and does not blindly align with the US or any bloc, including Caricom. Persad-Bissessar underscored the country’s commitment to maintaining peaceful relations with Venezuela and its refusal to engage in actions that could harm the Venezuelan people. She also affirmed her government’s support for leaders elected through free and fair democratic processes and reassured citizens that neither they nor national infrastructure were at risk due to any involvement in aggression against Venezuela.

Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro remained tight-lipped regarding the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) involvement in joint training exercises with the US military’s 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Speaking at the passing-out parade for 126 new police officers at the Police Training Academy in St James on November 17, Guevarro emphasized the strategic nature of such collaborations, stating it would be unwise to disclose specific details publicly.

US President Donald Trump has hinted at possible discussions with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, marking a potential shift in the strained relations between the two nations. Speaking to reporters at Palm Beach International Airport on November 16, Trump stated, ‘Let’s see how that turns out. They would like to talk.’ However, he remained noncommittal about Maduro’s future as Venezuela’s leader, citing the significant damage Maduro has caused to the US, particularly through drug-related issues and the release of prisoners into the country. Trump emphasized that the situation is complex and that further decisions would be made in due course. This announcement came shortly after the US Department of State declared its intention to designate Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, effective November 24. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the US would continue to employ all available tools to safeguard national security and disrupt funding to narco-terrorists. Trump acknowledged that the designation could enable the US to target Maduro’s assets but clarified that no definitive actions have been decided. The backdrop to these developments includes a reported offer from Maduro’s administration to grant the US a dominant stake in Venezuela’s oil and mineral wealth, as revealed by The New York Times on October 10. Meanwhile, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has launched Operation Southern Spear, aimed at dismantling drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. The US has also increased the bounty for Maduro’s arrest from $15 million to $50 million. Recent US military actions in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea have resulted in at least 83 deaths, further straining relations between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago (TT). Venezuela has accused TT of collaborating with the US, a claim vehemently denied by TT Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has expressed strong support for US efforts to curb illegal weapons and drugs. In response, Venezuela has suspended energy deals with TT and declared Persad-Bissessar persona non grata.

In a landmark ruling, Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, following a brutal state crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. A UN fact-finding report revealed that 1,400 people were killed, including 13% children, while thousands were maimed and 11,700 arbitrarily detained. The crackdown, marked by extrajudicial killings, torture, and surveillance, targeted dissenters, journalists, and medical staff. Women and girls faced sexual and gender-based violence, all orchestrated under Hasina’s iron-fisted regime. Despite her conviction, Hasina, exiled in India, remains unlikely to face extradition. She dismissed the tribunal’s ruling as a “farce,” claiming it was politically motivated. Her lawyers preemptively lodged a complaint with the UN, arguing the trial was retribution. The UN report corroborated the tribunal’s findings, detailing how Hasina, also the defense minister, directed security forces to violently suppress opposition. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described the response as a calculated strategy to retain power. Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female head of state, openly demeaned protesters, asserting their efforts were futile. While international bodies face challenges in enforcing accountability, this ruling serves as a stark reminder that leaders may eventually face consequences for disregarding due process and human rights for political gain.

US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to launch missile strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean has ignited a firestorm of criticism, both domestically and internationally. Initially framed as a decisive move against organized crime, the operation has instead highlighted the limitations of unilateral military action and the perils of prioritizing force over diplomacy. The strikes resulted in 76 fatalities, yet the US has failed to provide concrete evidence linking the destroyed vessels to drug trafficking. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about due process and the rule of law, principles that are foundational to any democratic society. The most striking reactions have come not from Trump’s critics but from his traditional allies. The UK, America’s closest partner, has ceased intelligence-sharing to avoid complicity, while Canada has distanced itself and Colombia has severed ties entirely. This widespread disengagement underscores the flawed nature of the strategy. Trump’s supporters argue that the strikes were necessary to protect American citizens, but such actions, devoid of legal justification, represent unchecked power rather than genuine security. History has repeatedly shown that wars waged on fear and instinct, rather than clear evidence, rarely yield positive outcomes. Equally troubling is the silence from Republican leaders, who once championed constitutional values but now turn a blind eye to extrajudicial killings carried out in America’s name. The global backlash is not an overreaction but a stark warning. When a nation forsakes transparency, legality, and alliances, it does not strengthen itself—it isolates itself. Trump’s promise of strength rings hollow when it lacks the support of allies, adherence to law, and a foundation of humanity. This episode marks the beginning of a decline, and the world is already witnessing it unfold.

In a heartfelt letter to the editor published in Newsday, Barry S. Bissessar, a self-proclaimed ‘Fyzo boy’ and former schoolmate of Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, extended his congratulations on Tancoo’s recent appointment to public office. However, Bissessar also took the opportunity to remind the minister of a significant campaign promise: the removal of the seven per cent Online Purchase Tax (OPT).

Bissessar recalled that the current Prime Minister, during his time as opposition leader, had repeatedly criticized the OPT as a ‘nuisance tax’ and vowed to eliminate it. The tax was introduced during the 2016-2017 budget by the then finance minister, placing an additional burden on an already heavily taxed population.

While acknowledging that the removal of the OPT might have been overlooked in the preparation of the 2025-2026 budget, Bissessar expressed confidence that the issue would be addressed during the mid-year review or, at the latest, in the next budget cycle. The letter serves as both a congratulatory message and a gentle nudge to the finance minister to fulfill a key electoral promise.