Amid swirling speculation of a possible U.S. strike on Venezuela — and fears of retaliation across the region — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is urging calm. She addressed reporters today as she arrived for the Parliamentary debate on extending the State of Emergency.
00:00Amid unconfirmed reports of an alert level one within the Trinidad and Tobago Defense
00:06Force and rumors of a pending U.S. strike against Venezuela, concerns have grown that
00:11Caracas could retaliate against neighboring states, including TNT.
00:16But Prime Minister Kamala Pesad possesses a publicly entering parliament this afternoon
00:20face the media head-on.
00:22She says she has no knowledge of any elevated military posture locally.
00:27I don't know. I have no information on knowledge of all time. I'll find out.
00:34The Prime Minister dismissed public panic, though reports of workers leaving Port of Spain
00:39early and schools requesting to be dismissed ahead of schedule have come in.
00:44While she has seen global media reports on the matter, she says there's no intelligence
00:49to suggest an imminent strike in the region.
00:52So I've seen the reports. I've also seen where President Trump is saying something different.
00:58So again, there's a lot of speculation, not just here, not locally, everywhere. I mean,
01:04it's a situation that really demands everybody's attention. We will keep our eyes and ears peeled
01:09and act when we see it's appropriate. We are not sitting ducks as we are here. We might be getting
01:14rain or we are not sitting ducks in the rain. We have been receiving intelligence reports and
01:20thus far I have none when there is an imminent strike anywhere in the region.
01:24And what should the public do in the meantime?
01:28The public should be doing whatever their business. Keep safe, keep strong, and always put your faith in your mind.
01:35And they'll be fine. We will be fine. Again, I assure you, if there is any cause for concern for Trinidad and Tobago, I will share it with you.
01:43Pisan Bisesa says national security remains under control and the government is focused on other pressing matters,
01:50including the extension of the state of emergency.
01:53Be calm. There's nothing to fear at this time. I cannot predict the future. But on my cards, on my books, there is nothing to fear.
02:02We go in this morning, this afternoon, Parliament to extend the state of emergency. The data shows us clearly that it has worked as an instrument.
02:10It's not the cure-all, it's not the financier, but it is. It has worked. Murders are down. Other serious crimes are down.
02:16And this is why, based on recommendations from official police, we want to extend the state of emergency.
02:22She adds that communication with Washington remains open and there's no reason for alarm.
02:27We've been in touch with the Charger Affairs here. My Minister of Foreign Affairs has been in touch.
02:33Once before you asked me something and I told you, you could get the whole treasury. When you were in New York and you asked me, I said, there's always room for improvement. There is always room for improvement, but thus far, there's nothing that has me unduly worried. I'm disappointed in that.
02:48As for the nation's defence strategy.
02:50I don't think it's appropriate to share whatever a plan may be and whatever the plan is. These are national security matters. They're exceedingly sensitive matters. And I don't think it is for me to be at liberty to share very serious national security plans at this point in time.
03:06The Prime Minister insists there's no cause for concern, but assures that government will act if the situation changes.
03:13Quite frankly, at this point in time, we have no cause for concern. If and when that happens, I was sure to do.
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