分类： world

A recent advisory issued by the US Embassy in Port of Spain has stirred significant concern among Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) population, already uneasy due to the presence of US warships in the southern Caribbean. The embassy’s warning, issued on October 18, urged US nationals to avoid government facilities during the Divali holiday weekend, citing a heightened state of alert. This move has fueled speculation and anxiety, particularly in light of ongoing US military operations in the region, including the destruction of a narco-submarine off Venezuela’s coast, which resulted in 29 fatalities. Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin sought to calm public fears, denying rumors that high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister and Attorney General, had been relocated to safe houses. He emphasized that police tactical units were on high alert as a precautionary measure, but assured the public there was no cause for panic. Meanwhile, opposition leaders criticized Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her silence on the matter, accusing her of neglecting her duties and isolating TT within the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The Caricom statement, which reaffirmed the region as a zone of peace, highlighted TT’s decision to ‘reserve its position,’ raising questions about the government’s foreign policy stance. US President Donald Trump’s recent comments on Venezuela, including a $50 million bounty on President Nicolas Maduro, have further intensified regional tensions. The British High Commission in TT stated that the US travel advisory was a matter for the US, while reaffirming its commitment to updating its own travel advice as needed.

Venezuela’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Alvaro Sanchez Cordero, has strongly criticized the recent US military strike on October 15, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of two Trinidadians and four others aboard a vessel allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking. Cordero described the incident as tragic but inevitable, citing the US government’s persistent disregard for international law. This marks the fifth such strike off Venezuela’s coast, bringing the death toll close to 30. Speaking at the University of the West Indies on October 16, Cordero emphasized Venezuela’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and refuted claims by US President Donald Trump that the country is a hub for narco-trafficking. He presented data showing that only 40% of Venezuela’s 90.64 million hectares of land is classified as drug-producing, and a 2025 UN report confirmed that the country is not a major drug trafficking route. Cordero highlighted Venezuela’s peaceful nature, stating that its 34 million citizens are focused on education, work, and enjoying life, not conflict. He accused the US of targeting Venezuela for its vast oil and gas reserves, the largest proven in the world. David Abdulah, an executive member of the Assembly of Caribbean People, also condemned the strike, calling it a war crime under the Geneva Convention. He urged Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to retract statements supporting the strikes and called for regional collaboration to maintain peace. Abdulah encouraged Caricom chair, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, to convene an emergency meeting to address the escalating tensions.

The families of Trinidadian nationals allegedly killed in a US military airstrike on October 14 are seeking closure, but international law expert Dr. Safiya Ali emphasizes that such efforts would require significant political and diplomatic support from local authorities. The US military, which has been increasing its presence in the Caribbean to combat what it describes as Venezuela’s narco-terrorism, began targeting small boats suspected of facilitating illegal activities in September. These operations have resulted in five confirmed attacks, claiming 27 lives, with unconfirmed reports of a sixth strike on October 16, where some survivors were reportedly found. The October 14 attack killed six individuals, two of whom are believed to be Trinidadian nationals: Chad Joseph of Las Cuevas and another identified only as Samaroo. Despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of the strike, no official details about the victims’ identities or nationalities have been released. Dr. Ali, an international law lecturer at the University of the West Indies and former general counsel at Caricom, outlined potential avenues for justice, including diplomatic channels under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, appeals to the Association for Caribbean States or Caricom, and representations to the United Nations Security Council. However, she expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures, particularly given the US’s veto power. Dr. Ali also noted that the Trinidad and Tobago government’s stance, as indicated by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s support for the US military actions, could hinder efforts to pursue justice. The Prime Minister has consistently taken a hardline approach against Venezuela and illegal trade, refusing to allocate state resources to assist Trinidadian nationals involved in such activities. Dr. Ali urged caution in supporting the US military’s actions, citing the lack of transparency and the potential for wrongful acts under international law. Meanwhile, fishermen in Cedros have expressed growing fears for their safety due to increased patrols by Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional in the surrounding waters. Marlon Parmel, president of the Bonasse Fisherfolk, reported that fishermen have observed continuous patrols, deterring them from venturing far from Trinidad’s shores. The situation has escalated since the alleged arrest of Rex James, a local fisherman, by the Guardia Nacional in June, with his current whereabouts unknown. The US military’s latest airstrike on October 16, reported by Reuters, marks the sixth such attack, with survivors reported for the first time. However, details remain scarce, as the Pentagon has yet to comment on the incident.