00:00The Status of Forces Agreement, SOFA, between the United States and this country was signed
00:06in 2007, but ratified in 2013 under the Kamala Prasad-Bissetta-led People's Partnership
00:13government.
00:14While SOFA sets the framework for how United States troops will operate should their assistance
00:20be requested by Trinidad and Tobago in, but not limited to, situations like natural disasters,
00:27Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdullah is of the view that aid can be provided if
00:32needed without the signing of these military agreements.
00:37The MSJ's position is very simple.
00:39There must be no military agreements with the United States or any other country that
00:45will facilitate or allow or permit any military personnel, we're talking about Navy, we're
00:57talking about Air Force, we're talking about Army personnel to be able to enter Trinidad
01:06and Tobago.
01:07However, the MSJ states that it has no problem with cross-border collaboration between law
01:12enforcement officials, such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which aid in mitigating
01:19crimes like money laundering and illicit drug and arms trafficking, nor is it against those
01:25that provide training, etc.
01:27According to Abdullah, while Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has outlined the country's
01:31principled position on recognizing the Maduro government and the close relationship this
01:38country has with Venezuela, transparency is lacking.
01:42We continue to deflect on what was the content of the agreements that were signed by the
01:48Trinidad and Tobago government on the 10th of December by National Security Minister
01:53Fitzgerald Hines, who's a lamed up minister because he's on his way out, and the head
02:00of the U.S. Southern Command.
02:02Prime Minister did not say what those agreements actually enabled.
02:07The 2013 SOFA has been continuously renewed without any changes upon request by the United
02:14States Embassy.
02:16Based on an exchange of notes between the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry
02:20of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs dated December 5th and December 19th, 2022, the last agreement
02:27took effect on January 1st, 2023 and expires on January 1st, 2025.
02:34There has been no confirmation if changes have been made to the most recent agreement
02:39or if it has been renewed under the same 2013 terms.
02:43Abdullah notes that the National Security Minister has also not provided any insight
02:47into it, and he is of the view that the Prime Minister's assurances concerning Venezuela
02:52do not alleviate worry.
02:54He said his government would not allow U.S. troops to come into Trinidad and Tobago as
03:00a staging point to enter Venezuela, but that has a very important implication because it
03:08suggests that another government may allow troops from the U.S. to come in here to then
03:14go to Venezuela.
03:16So that gives absolutely no comfort at all.
03:19Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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