00:00aircraft to use two of the island's airports has sparked public concern in the Caribbean nation
00:04in the context of the U.S. military presence in the region and its threats against Venezuela.
00:09Our correspondent Crystal Hoytick in Barbado brings us closer to the issue.
00:13Chief Secretary and Tobago People's Party leader Farley Augustine is responding to renewed public
00:20concern after Trinidad and Tobago confirmed that United States military aircraft have been
00:26authorized to use both Crown Point and Pierco airports for what the government describes as
00:32logistical activity. While national officials have framed the arrangement as routine cooperation,
00:38the development has reignited questions in Tobago about consultation, public communication and how
00:44the island is being positioned as regional tensions remain in focus. Mr. Augustine says the issue has
00:51stirred fresh anxiety on the ground and he insists Tobago's stance is guided by restraint and
00:58neutrality, not alignment. And so I want to reiterate not just my position, but the position of
01:06Tobogonians as I speak to them on the street. We're not part of any war. Two, our people are
01:13fighting any war. Three, no war is being fought from Tobago. So you ain't looking to shoot down nobody from
01:21Tobago soil or Tobago waters. Four, that we not picking any team in any race. Americans pick Trump,
01:31that is American Trump business. If Venezuelans want to pick Maduro, that is Venezuela and Maduro business.
01:36I know come January 12th, Tobago will pick Farley Chavez, Augustine and the TPP and that is our
01:42business because Tobago is we and we are going to continue to mind our business. Mr. Augustine argues
01:49that fear-driven narratives are outpacing the facts and he says Tobago is not a launch point for conflict.
01:56And I want to show you how the fear-mongering does not make sense. The United States have a ship
02:03with more capabilities, more technological capabilities than the whole of Tobago combined.
02:10As a matter of fact, the U.S. with that ship, they don't even need to come into Nan Tobago waters.
02:16They could just stay in international waters and do whatever they want to do against whoever they
02:20want to do. They don't need us to do that. And so even last night when a member of the media asked me,
02:26do you think Tobago will be affected if there is war? And I said, but think about it. The whole
02:32Eastern Caribbean, the Southern Caribbean, all of us will be affected. It's not like it's a Tobago
02:38alone thing. All of us will be affected. As scrutiny continues, residents and stakeholders are calling
02:45for clearer, steadier communication, particularly on how national security decisions intersect with
02:51Tobago's safety, economy and public confidence during an election season.
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