Stephon Nicholas
Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has praised Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for having “more balls” than her male Caricom counterparts, citing her handling of regional security and geopolitical developments discussed at last week’s Caricom Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts and Nevis.
Speaking on Sunday in his first briefing after attending the summit, Augustine said Persad-Bissessar’s analysis of events surrounding Venezuela showed pragmatism and a clear understanding of international power dynamics.
During her February 24 address, Persad-Bissessar criticised Caricom for not defending member states Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana when Venezuela was “threatening violence” against them.
Reflecting on these events, Augustine said: “Looking back now at the whole situation and how it played itself out, I don’t know if the radar was in Tobago or not that would stop the US from getting Maduro. I find we have glossed over the fact that Maduro was taken and those who were the strongest allies and supporters of Maduro, those who swore to protect him, all of a sudden they get quiet.
“You see (acting Venezuela President) Delcy (Rodriguez) changing her tune and changing her position because of US power over her and Venezuela. We don’t understand the pragmatism. It might just be the PM has more balls than all her male counterparts in the region.”
Augustine was part of Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation at the Caricom summit, which also discussed regional security, economic cooperation and other geopolitical challenges facing member states.
