标签： Trinidad and Tobago

Venezuela has abruptly severed all energy cooperation agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, escalating regional tensions following a disputed oil tanker interception by US forces. The decision was formally announced on December 15 through an official statement shared by Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez.

The diplomatic rupture stems from Venezuela’s allegation that Trinidadian authorities had prior knowledge of the US military’s December 10 interception of the crude oil tanker ‘Skipper’ off the Venezuelan coast. The vessel, reportedly transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba, was seized in what Caracas characterizes as ‘an act of piracy violating international law and principles of free navigation.’

Venezuelan authorities explicitly condemned what they termed Trinidad’s transformation into ‘a US aircraft carrier to attack Venezuela,’ referencing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s alleged ‘hostile agenda’ since her United National Congress party’s April election victory. The statement further referenced the October 27 termination of the Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation between the nations.

Trinidadian leadership has vigorously rejected these allegations. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar dismissed Venezuela’s claims as ‘false propaganda,’ asserting that complaints should be directed toward the Trump administration rather than Trinidad. She emphasized the nation’s energy self-sufficiency, stating: ‘We have never depended on Venezuela for natural gas supplies. We have adequate reserves within our territory.’

Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal echoed these sentiments, characterizing Venezuela’s statement as ‘hypocritical’ given Venezuela’s ongoing engagements with US energy giant Chevron. Both officials identified bureaucratic inefficiencies rather than international relations as the primary constraint on Trinidad’s energy development.

Opposition leader Stuart Young expressed profound concern regarding the termination’s potential impact on critical cross-border energy projects, particularly the Loran-Manatee field unitization agreement and Shell’s development of the Manatee field scheduled for 2027 production. Young warned this development compounds existing challenges including Nutrien’s closure and the National Gas Company’s failure to negotiate new contracts.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of Venezuela’s October declaration of Persad-Bissessar as persona non grata following her support for US military deployment in the Caribbean—a move she defends as necessary for combating drug trafficking, while Venezuela maintains US intentions center on regime change.

Tobago’s political landscape witnesses a remarkable transition as former national football captain Karyn “Baby” Forbes steps into the electoral arena. The celebrated athlete, boasting 15 years and over 70 appearances representing Trinidad and Tobago, has been officially nominated as the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Plymouth/Black Rock in the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections scheduled for January 12.

Forbes will contend against Kern Alexis of the Tobago People’s Party in what marks a significant career shift from athletic leadership to political service. In an exclusive interview, Forbes emphasized that her political engagement evolved gradually rather than emerging as a sudden impulse. “This decision grew out of years of listening,” she stated. “Leadership doesn’t end when the game is on pause – it deepens.”

The Plymouth native articulated her alignment with PNM as a choice grounded in principle rather than convenience. “I chose the PNM because I believe in building things that last,” Forbes explained. “Not handouts. Not season promises. Real structures that serve generations.”

Forbes demonstrates acute awareness of her constituency’s challenges, noting struggling families, particularly single-parent households, youth lacking clear pathways despite their abilities, and elderly residents feeling increasingly marginalized. She prioritizes addressing deteriorating sports facilities and community infrastructure requiring urgent attention.

Her political philosophy combines realism with visionary planning. “I don’t pretend to have magical solutions. What I bring is structure and follow-through,” Forbes asserted. Her agenda emphasizes people-first governance, family empowerment, community space revitalization, and leveraging sports, education, and entrepreneurship as opportunity gateways.

If elected, Forbes commits to establishing robust foundations within her first year: “Systems that work, spaces that feel alive again, and people who feel seen. Because service is not about power: It’s about responsibility.”

The athlete-turned-candidate views her role as bridging sports and community development. While embracing her athletic identity, Forbes stresses that “empowerment doesn’t end with sport.” She prepares to release two books—”Woman of Substance” and “Beyond the Whistle”—sharing her journey including mental battles, setbacks, and moments of faith to demonstrate that “success is not linear, and strength isn’t perfection.”

Forbes considers her candidacy fundamentally inspirational: “My candidacy is about showing young people that your background doesn’t box you in. Whether you come from the field, the classroom, the block, or the church, you belong in leadership spaces too.”

She characterizes Tobago’s current situation as pivotal, demanding “stamina, empathy, and integrity” alongside practical understanding of “teamwork and accountability, not in theory, but in practice.”

Despite recently suffering a fractured ankle during training before Trinidad and Tobago’s October 28 friendly against Jamaica, Forbes has begun rehabilitation therapy following cast removal. She remains technically available for national team selection while transitioning toward political service.

Forbes acknowledges the challenges ahead: “Sport has clear rules; life doesn’t. But the same courage it takes to step onto the pitch against stronger opponents is the courage needed to step into leadership when change is necessary.”

She believes football instilled essential values for public service—discipline, accountability, and respect for team roles—understanding that “you may not always score the goal, but your position still matters.” Forbes applies the athletic principle that “preparation beats talent when talent stops working” to governance, emphasizing that “we don’t need more noise. We need preparation, planning, and consistent delivery.”

Ultimately, Forbes frames her political engagement not as power pursuit but responsibility continuation: “I’m not here because it’s comfortable. I’m here because it’s required.” Her perspective redefines leadership as commitment extending far beyond the football pitch, embracing broader community stewardship.

The political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago has lost one of its most distinguished voices with the passing of Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ferreira at age 93. A former key advisor to founding Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams, Ferreira represented a vanishing breed of political thinkers who viewed governance as genuine public service rather than political theater.

Ferreira’s remarkable journey began humbly on the Port of Spain docks, where his formal education ended at age 14. His political awakening commenced in 1946 as a member of Butler’s Army of Liberation, with his informal education unfolding through vigorous debates at Woodford Square—the renowned open-air university that shaped generations of Trinidadian thinkers.

Despite his unwavering identification as a PNM loyalist, Ferreira distinguished himself through his uncommon willingness to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints. He transformed political disagreement into an art form, consistently maintaining civil discourse without descending into rancor or personal attacks. His commitment to principled governance sometimes placed him at odds with his own party, most notably in 1980 when he was expelled from the PNM for questioning Dr. Williams’ demand for undated resignation letters from cabinet members.

This principled stance led Ferreira to help establish the Organisation for National Reconstruction and later contribute to building the National Alliance for Reconstruction before returning to the PNM fold in 1992 under Patrick Manning’s leadership. Throughout his six decades of political engagement—expressed through columns, letters to editors, and interviews—Ferreira never tempered his advocacy for transparent governance and mutual respect in parliamentary proceedings.

Even in his final years, he remained an outspoken commentator, challenging political conventions and amplifying dissenting voices within his party. His fearless commentary following the PNM’s April defeat and his balanced assessment of Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles demonstrated his enduring commitment to honest political discourse.

The University of Trinidad and Tobago recognized his contributions with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2021, while his published works—including “Political Encounters 1946-2016” and his 2022 autobiography “Portrait of a Patriot”—stand as testaments to his intellectual legacy.