St Vincent PM urges Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela 'to act peacefully'

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is urging Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela to exercise restraint and resolve their differences peacefully and in line with international law, after both countries made contrasting statements regarding alleged actions to destabilise the Nicolas Maduro government in the South American country.

“All I would like to do is to urge both neighbours to continue to act peacefully in accordance with international law,” Gonsalves, one of the longest-serving leaders in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, warning against inflaming the situation with strong language.

“As far as practicable, we do not incline the situation with any excessive rhetoric. We just take our patience into account. And whatever is the problem, we solve them maturely between two neighbours,” said Gonsalves, a former Pro-Tempore president of the 33-member Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) that includes both Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Last Friday, the Venezuelan government expressed “its profound surprise at the irate and unjustified reaction” of the Trinidad and Tobago government in response to what it termed as “ a legitimate complaint” by Maduro about the attempts to overthrow his administration by mercenaries using Trinidad and Tobago.

“Venezuela has captured criminals of Trinidadian origin, who have confessed their plans, statements that have been duly supported with compelling evidence presented by the competent authorities,” Caracas said in a statement.

Last Thursday night, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said that it took “very seriously” threats being made by Venezuela to track down any person outside of the South American country.

She told a post-Cabinet news conference that she had also been aware of statements made by Venezuelan Justice Minister, Diosdado Cabello, that a Trinidad and Tobago national was involved in “terrorist activities” aimed at destabilising Venezuela earlier this week.

Cabello has since identified the Trinidadian national as “Gis Kendel Jheron,” and repeated accusations made by President Maduro that “terrorists,” including Colombians, had used Trinidad and Tobago as a launching pad in the bid to destabilise the Venezuelan government.

Cabello has vowed to pursue anyone attempting to destabilise Venezuela, saying, “there must be justice.

“We are going after the gangs, wherever they are and wherever they are. Together, we will guarantee peace in this country,” he said.

But, Persad Bissessar told reporters that there was no evidence to support the comments made by Cabello, adding “today I want to make it very clear to the Venezuelan government and officials that they can do whatever they want on Venezuelan territory, but they cannot come here."

Trinidad and Tobago police say that the person named by Cabello had not appeared in the country’s criminal database.

Gonsalves said that while he is not ruling out intervening in the ongoing impasse between the two countries, he is nonetheless urging peace.

“Maybe not, maybe not as yet, but that’s why I’m urging peace and calm,” Gonsalves said, reaffirming CARICOM’s and the region’s broader commitment to peace.

“That would be what my own broad position would do as someone who supports very much—and we all do, and CARICOM does, and so too does Venezuela—we support our region as a region of peace. We want to see good neighbourliness.

“If there is any challenge which arises, we should not interfere in the internal affairs of any other state. We should not bring any foreign power into this particular matter. This is a matter which we have to be careful that is not blown out of proportion,” Gonsalves told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.

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