Raphael John-Lall
Freelance Correspondent
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has confirmed the suspension of gas agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, saying the decision stems from what he described as “hostile actions” by the Government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
T&T was granted a licence to explore the Dragon gas field in Venezuelan waters in early October after Persad-Bissessar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly advised that the project could proceed only if Maduro’s administration did not benefit financially.
“On the aircraft carrier of the supremacists of the US empire against Venezuela and South America, I have approved the precautionary measure of the immediate suspension of all the effects and the agreements. That is why I have decided to take this decision. What the supremacists want is Venezuela’s riches,” Maduro said.
He added, “I approved the precautionary measure of suspending the agreement and requested that the case be referred to the Council of State, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the National Assembly to take structural measures in this matter.”
Maduro made the announcement on Monday night during the 95th broadcast of his programme Con Maduro.
The arrival of the US naval ship USS Gravely in T&T on Sunday sparked a strong reaction from Caracas, with several Venezuelan ministers alleging that T&T is aligning itself with the United States to attack Venezuela.
Maduro said all evidence regarding the CIA’s alleged military exercises off the Venezuelan coast had previously been shared with T&T.
“The last time we gave them all the evidence of those who wanted to bomb what was the United States embassy in Caracas, they simply went out to protect us. We know for sure in Miami, we gave them names and surnames,” he said.
Maduro also claimed that between Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, Venezuelan authorities captured a new group of mercenaries allegedly paid by the CIA to carry out a false-flag attack on US military vessels positioned off Venezuela’s coast.
Earlier on Monday, Persad-Bissessar, reacting to news from Venezuela, said T&T does not need Venezuelan gas and has its own economic strategy to sustain growth.
On Sunday, the T&T Government stressed the USS Gravely was in Port-of-Spain as part of continued training exercises with the US for the T&T Defence Force and continued co-operation between the two countries.
The T&T Government also said it values its relationship with Venezuela.
