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CCNTV6
  • 3 months ago
The USS Gravely arrived in Trinidad this morning, and will remain here until October 30th. Its crew is expected to conduct joint training with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, focusing on infantry tactics, maintenance, and advanced medical exercises. However many are asking why, and why now?
Transcript
00:00Just behind me is U.S. warship, the USS Gravely, which arrived in TNT just after 9 this morning.
00:07Now the ship has arrived amid much speculation and even anxiety as to the real reason behind the visit.
00:14However, Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa has sought to allay any and all fears,
00:19dispelling claims of potential conflict as fear-mongering.
00:23However, as we speak, international media report that at least 10 percent of the U.S.
00:28naval assets are deployed here in the Southern Caribbean.
00:31And of course, President Donald Trump has given the CIA authorization to conduct a covert operation in Venezuela.
00:40Now, with Trinidad and Tobago being the only CARICOM country to fully support the U.S. actions here,
00:45it begs the question, what exactly is Trinidad and Tobago's arrangement with the United States?
00:52Armed with advanced weapon systems such as surface-to-air missiles,
00:57torpedoes and helicopters featuring Penguin and Hellfire missiles,
01:02the USS Gravely is capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-suffice warfare.
01:11Now the warship is here in Trinidad and Tobago, triggering mixed responses among the national population.
01:17This thing is very, very frightening.
01:20It has nothing to do with picking sides.
01:22It has nothing to do with a frightening situation.
01:26Are you satisfied with the government's response and the information that has been forthcoming?
01:32Negative, negative.
01:33They haven't given us no kind of information pertaining to why the ship even being here training exercise.
01:38Why we have to be good and training exercise with these people and then let them, with all the respect,
01:48let the U.S.A. handle their own training exercise and let them handle their own sin,
01:52because we're not in this league now.
01:54And anytime we push up ourselves to the end of the league, we might get the ball out of the league.
01:59You understand?
02:00So, I don't know what she did with all the respect.
02:03I could be happy if they could defend me.
02:05In case any disturbance they could defend me, I could be happy body if they need me.
02:10You know, I really would like to know the disturbance that comes towards the country,
02:14and if they could break you from getting involved in that,
02:18I would be happy if they could defend me from getting hampered from that then, you know.
02:25As far as I know, there's about 14% of the U.S. military in the Western theater here in this area,
02:31and I just have to trust what the authorities and the Prime Minister are saying to us,
02:35and allow them to guide us.
02:38And how do you feel personally about the development?
02:41It's a bit worrying, but it's just a bit unfortunate,
02:45and hopefully things will be settled without any drama.
02:49Do the Venezuelan chair and the Venezuelans back home in Venezuela
02:53support U.S. President Donald Trump and the actions of the U.S.?
02:58Yes. Very, very, very good.
03:01Very good that Donald Trump, that take the government in Venezuela.
03:06Everybody in Venezuela is very like Donald Trump.
03:10As tensions escalate between the United States and Venezuela,
03:14MSJ leader David Abdullah is of the opinion that despite what the authorities say,
03:20the facts suggest otherwise.
03:23When we have a U.S. destroyer guided missile on board the gravely docking in Port of Spain,
03:32at the request according to Minister of Defense Sturge,
03:37at the request of the United States,
03:39then we cannot pretend that this is about dealing with drugs and narco trafficking.
03:46This is about a U.S. strategy of regime change in Venezuela.
03:52It might be by direct military action by the United States.
03:56It might be otherwise.
03:57It might be indirect.
03:58It might be attempting drone strikes to kill President Maduro and other leaders of the Venezuelan government and party.
04:05We don't know what form it will take.
04:07But you do not locate all of these assets to deal with some drug running modes.
04:14With more questions than answers, security expert Dr. Gavin Heer is urging the Prime Minister
04:20to face the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
04:24I think it is critical now and almost immediate that there be an address to the nation,
04:30probably by the Honourable Prime Minister herself,
04:33flanked by her ministers of defence and homeland security and of course the heads of security,
04:38so as to speak directly to the nation and to the citizens,
04:41assuring safety, security and of course a semblance of order.
04:45Because as it is right now, they are pulling information from all over
04:50and nobody is really hearing from an authenticated source or representative of government.
04:57And I would go further to say that it is also time now to consider the establishment of a national coordination task force
05:05that can probably update the citizenry once a week on the developments
05:10and keep us up to date on how these developments are unfolding
05:15and until it is laid to rest and laid to rest peacefully is our prayer.
05:19Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
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