00:00The United States reimposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector last week Thursday, citing
00:07that President Nicolas Maduro has failed to commit to holding free and fair elections.
00:13Owing to this recent development, opposition MP David Lee says there are conflicting reports
00:20coming from members of the government of Trinidad and Tobago as to how the development of the
00:25dragon gas deal will be impacted by Venezuela's political landscape.
00:30On Thursday, Minister Young was in the newspapers saying sanctions on Venezuela will not affect
00:41Trinidad and Tobago.
00:42That was a statement put out by the Ministry of Energy and also confirmed by the Minister
00:50of Energy, Minister Young.
00:52However, Lee says the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley last week
00:58were not the same as Energy Minister Stuart Young.
01:01When the Prime Minister spoke on Thursday, we were told an entirely different position.
01:06The Prime Minister told us, and I want to quote, we are not immune to what goes on between
01:11Venezuela and the United States because as we say that two is a moving target.
01:18This is his quota.
01:20What we have done is to try and build relationships and promote our interests in a wider sphere
01:26than in Port of Spain so that whatever happens or whatever is happening or is to happen with
01:33Washington and Caracas, we have resolutely kept our interests in front of all parties.
01:41The MP says on Friday during the Prime Minister's question and answer segment in Parliament,
01:47the update given on the drug and gas deal was worrying.
01:51These operations usually have long lead time and gestation periods.
01:56For example, the procurement of survey vessels to survey the field, the planning of well
02:03work, engineering designs, costings and other necessary work for the project have been going
02:09on and all the necessary activities are underway as precursors to any physical activity.
02:18He also noted that the 30-year exploration and production license granted to Trinidad
02:24and Tobago by the government of Venezuela was not a guarantee that the deal was protected
02:30against U.S. sanctions.
02:32If there are issues that develop in the 30 years that the Trinidad and Tobago government
02:38cannot, because of sanctions imposed, cannot go ahead with the deal of drug and gas, they
02:48will give this country six months and then they will consider terminating the 30-year license.
02:56It is there, it is there in this gazette that was gazetted on January 29, 2024, the
03:04official gazette of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela.
03:09Shirlan Ramsubag, TV6 News.
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