The Opposition Leader says the Government's recent position regarding Venezuela needs further clarification and hopes this occurs soon and established diplomatic channels are used to resolve any differences.
But should this be a subject of debate in the Parliament?
Juhel Browne has the answer from the Opposition Leader.
00:00So if the government does not clarify this situation very soon, having made those kinds of comments, it's no wonder people are going and doing their research in Venezuela and comparing equipment and equipment, comparing military, the amount of people that are there in the army. I mean, you really do not want to go down that road.
00:22Our position lead up, L.P. Beckles, responding to a question from TV6 News during a media conference on Monday about a recent foreign policy announcement by the government, which has determined recent statements by the president and the justice minister of Venezuela to be threatening in tone.
00:39Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Besessa said last Thursday that she will speak to the defense minister and attorney general to seek advice for protections for the Coast Guard to use deadly force on any unidentified vessel entering Trinidad and Tobago's waters from Venezuela, smuggling military-abled men and women.
00:57I mean, we don't have diplomatic relations with every country, but the fact is you do have diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
01:03You do have an ambassador here from Venezuela so that if you want to find out information, that's why you set up the ministry of Caricom and Foreign Affairs.
01:13And the truth is we haven't really heard. So, I mean, any one of us will be concerned if you hear that kind of statement from President Maduro.
01:21Prime Minister Passat-Besessa warned Venezuela that where its internal security issues are concerned, Trinidad and Tobago is off limits. The opposition leader made reference to posts on TikTok and other social media platforms.
01:34So, the fact is that sometimes we have to realize that as a country, we look at things through a particular lens, meaning to say we look at it as though it is a joke because we have the tendency to do that sometimes.
01:48But behind that joke is it is a serious fear and there is always a message.
01:53Opposition Senator and former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amy Brown raised a particular concern.
01:59In an era of social media and when we are all aware there are tendencies towards xenophobia in this and other countries, we have to be prudent and responsible in our utterances.
02:11And at the early stage when we don't even understand the reality of what would have been transpired and the claims being made from Caracas, to take it at that point and talking about military age, Venezuelan men, it is unnecessary and imprudent.
02:31The government of Venezuela on Friday expressed profound surprise at what it called the irate and unjustified reaction of the prime minister, quote, in response to a legitimate complaint by President Nicolas Maduro Moros about the entry of criminal elements from Trinidadian territory into Venezuela, end quote.
02:50Prime Minister Passat-Bissette said her administration has seen no evidence to support claims made by Venezuela's president that Colombian paramilitary groups infiltrated Venezuela via Trinidad and Tobago.
03:03TV6 News is sought to find out from the opposition leader whether the opposition would raise an urgent question about the matter during the next sitting of parliament.
03:11Well, definitely it is something we can raise in terms of a motion on the adjournment. As you know, parliament, there has only been the ceremonial opening. Next week is the midterm review. So that, I mean, the fact is if you don't hear anything, I mean, it's been a couple of days and, you know, people are concerned both locally and internationally and in the region. And my expectation is that there will be some clarification.
03:37The government has said the parliament's debate of the mid-year review of the budget is set to begin on June 18th.
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