00:00The government of Venezuela, quote, urges the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago not to engage in geopolitical games that are alien to the interests of our peoples and reaffirms its commitment to peace, sovereignty and mutual respect, recalling that any legitimate concern must be channeled through diplomatic channels, not through threats or unfounded statements that only fuel artificial tensions, end quote.
00:25This was the response of the government in Venezuela to the bold declaration made by Prime Minister Kamna Pesad-Besessa during the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Red House in Port of Spain on Thursday in response to recent statements by Venezuela's president and its justice minister.
00:43Today, 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.
00:57TNT territory is off limits to them.
01:01If Mr. Cabello's comments are a veiled threat to enter TNT territory, they should reconsider any such intention.
01:09The fact is that as a responsible government, we have to take all threats against any incursion into our territory seriously.
01:19The government of Venezuela said in a statement on Friday that it expresses its, quote,
01:24profoundly surprised at the irate and unjustified reaction of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamna Pesad-Besessa,
01:31in her response to a legitimate complaint by President Nicolás Maduro-Moros about the entry of criminal elements from Trinidadian territory into Venezuela, end quote.
01:41Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa says the administration has seen no evidence to support claims made by Venezuela's president
01:48that Colombian parliamentary groups infiltrated Venezuela via Trinidad and Tobago.
01:54On Friday, the Maduro administration elaborated on those claims as it said, quote,
01:58Venezuela has captured criminals of Trinidad origin who have confessed their plans,
02:03statements that have been duly supported by compelling evidence presented by the competent authorities,
02:09the appropriate thing to do in the face of this serious situation is to offer cooperation and willingness to clarify the facts, end quote.
02:18Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa made her administration's position on the matter quite clear.
02:24I will speak to Minister of Defense and the Attorney General to seek advice on protections for our Coast Guard,
02:30to use deadly force on any unidentified vessel entering TT waters from Venezuela,
02:38smuggling military-abled men, able-bodied men and women.
02:44TNT is off-limits to them.
02:47Venezuela's government said on Friday, quote,
02:48the Prime Minister's virulent and high-sounding attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity with this incursion
02:55and compromises the good relations of cooperation that exist between our countries in fundamental areas, end quote.
03:03In 2015, during her first term as Prime Minister, Senior Counsel Pesad-Besessa met with Venezuela's President Maduro
03:10during his visit to Trinidad as official photos of that visit show.
03:15After their meeting at the Diplomatic Center in St. Anne's, there was a joint media conference.
03:20Now in 2025, during her second term as the head of Trinidad and Tobago's government,
03:25Prime Minister Pesad-Besessa has taken a hard-line approach in response to what her administration has determined
03:31to be a threatening tone from the Maduro administration.
03:35Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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