Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her foreign policy, insisting she makes no apology for supporting the United States in its mission to dismantle drug cartels.
Responding to questions from the Express yesterday about criticism from former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley, Persad-Bissessar reiterated that her Government stands firmly with Guyana against any act of aggression by dictator Nicol�s Maduro.
Rowley has accused her of having lit a match in the Caribbean and pursuing the most reckless foreign policy.
Said Persad-Bissessar: The truth is the Caribbean is already on fire, engulfed by the flames of illicit drug, gun, and arms trafficking. The cartels are fuelling crime and violence across our borders and within our own communities. So why is the PNM against dismantling the cartels? Guns and drugs dont materialise out of thin air. They move through powerful regional trafficking networks, run by billion-dollar cartels that are stronger, better armed, and better organised than many states. Wasnt Rowley the same Caricom chair who appealed to the US for help in stemming the flow of guns into the region? Didnt Caricom declare gun violence a public health emergency and an act of terror?
Pointing out that Rowley and Maduro were allies, she said he (Rowley) is now trying to defend his friend with baseless attacks against the Guyanese people. This drug cartel problem has been allowed to fester for far too long and threatens to destabilise our region. Efforts by regional groups throughout the hemisphere, including Caricom, have failed to produce a solution to this ever-deepening drug trafficking crisis. Not much has come from various processes and accords. As we can see, the problem remains and has worsened despite the multitudinous meetings held.
DICTATOR: Nicol�s Maduro
Cristian HernandezNo apology
Persad-Bissessar dismissed Rowleys Caricom arguments, noting that several Caricom nations, namely St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, and Dominica, are ALBA signatories and openly backed Maduro and condemned the US. Caricom unity had already been fractured before my comments.
Persad-Bissessar declared: I make no apology for standing firm against narco-trafficking and gun smuggling. I make no apology for defending a Caricom neighbour Guyana who is under threat. And I make no apology for putting the interests of Trinidad and Tobago first.
Challenging the Zone of Peace mantra, she asked: Where is the peace and stability in our proclaimed Zone of Peace when one country wants to invade and claim more than two-thirds of its neighbours territory, a cherished member of the Caricom family? My Government would not stand by and allow that horrendous violation of Guyanas sovereignty while some talk vacuously of our Zone of Peace? Because after Guyana we could very well be next.
She said whether Caricom liked it or not, the US was the only power with the capacity to disrupt the cartels at scale.
To partner with the Americans is not to undermine the Caribbean region but to defend it. Trinidad and Tobago does not need to consult Caricom on our national matters and I certainly have no wish to dictate to any Caricom member on how they should run their country, she said.
Taxpayers footing migration bill
On migration, she stated: The Trinidadian taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for the tens of thousands of illegal Venezuela migrants living in our country. Thousands of our citizens have been murdered in the last 25 years. Just yesterday a 65-year-old retiree was raped most likely by an illegal immigrant. Going forward, our foreign policy will be dictated mainly on what is in best interest for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago first.
Persad-Bissessar insisted her Government would not sit on its hands while people are slaughtered, while cartels entrench themselves in this country, or while Venezuelan instability spills over our borders.
US PRESIDENT: Donald Trump
Alex BrandonShe pointed out that the last PNM administration and Caricom had no issue collaborating with Washington when Joe Biden was President and the Democrats were in government. If they dont agree with President Trumps politics and ideology, that is their choice, come out and say that, but my Government does not have to go along with their views. We will do whats best for Trinidad and Tobago first.
On Rowleys view that Venezuela may see her stance as betrayal, she said T&T has always enjoyed good relations with the Venezuelan people and hoped that would continue.
But she asked: Why did millions of Venezuelans flee their homeland? The PNM and Caricom boasts about past meetings and accords, but after all the photo ops, Maduro laughed in their faces and continued to threaten Guyana. The Venezuelan government has now started making false accusations about Trinidad and Tobago.
She stressed that Guyana was not an aggressor: Guyana has never threatened to invade Venezuela lands so they dont need a blank cheque as they were never the aggressor.
Persad-Bissessar noted that in the April 28 general election, the majority of citizens voted for the UNC fully knowing my views on the Venezuelan and American governments.
Many seem to be so blinded by their irrational hatred for President Trump that they dont see the benefits of the US military thwarting the cartels in our region, she said, adding that thousands of citizens have been murdered in the last 25 years.
Said Persad-Bissessar: The country is awash with drugs, guns and illegal immigrants. What zone of peace are these people speaking about when we have the sixth-highest murder rate in the world? Our country is in a mess in terms of finances and security. My Government will adopt a Trinidad and Tobago First policy in the next five years.
