00:00The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago, Amcham TNT, has welcomed the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets
00:07Control general licenses for the development of petroleum resources in Venezuela.
00:11Amcham TNT said that while not specifically mentioning Trinidad and Tobago, the licenses paved the way for the development of
00:18several projects in the relatively near-term including the Loran, Coquina and Dragon gas fields in Venezuela by Shell and
00:27BP with participation from Trinidad and Tobago's national gas company, the NGC.
00:32Amcham TNT further said this development represents a critical step towards securing medium-term gas supply at a crucial time
00:41for both the Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuelan economies.
00:45Amcham TNT added that while there are still many steps to be taken before natural gas supplies materialize, the announcement
00:52significantly tilts the medium-term economic outlook to the upside and should boost confidence in both countries.
01:00This follows the announcement by Prime Minister Calma Pesad-Besesso on Friday that the government of Trinidad and Tobago welcomes
01:06the issuance of U.S. General Licenses 49 and 50, which provides a clear and structured legal framework under U
01:14.S. law for certain oil and gas activities in Venezuela, and quote, along our shared maritime border, end quote.
01:21There was no mention in the Prime Minister's statement of her administration's support of the recent enhanced presence of the
01:28U.S. military in the Caribbean as part of what the U.S. government still maintains is its war on
01:33drug cartels.
01:34There was also no mention in the Prime Minister's statement about the action by U.S. forces in Venezuela that
01:39resulted in them detaining Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and flying them to the U.S. in what
01:45the U.S. government said was a law enforcement exercise.
01:47Opposition MP and former Prime Minister Stuart Young said on Friday that there are questions that require an immediate answer,
01:54including if the government, led by Prime Minister Pesad-Besesso, is having any direct discussions and negotiations with the acting
02:01President of Venezuela, Delci Rodriguez, as the dragon field is owned by Venezuela, as are Coquina and Loran.
02:09Amcham TNT did not make any reference to such concerns.
02:13However, Amcham TNT congratulated the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on its work to ensure that the
02:18issue of gas supplies from Venezuela was high on the agenda of the U.S. government and their efforts to
02:24ensure this outcome.
02:26Amcham TNT acknowledged the prioritization of these matters by Prime Minister Pesad-Besesso, Energy Minister Dr. Rudal Munilal, the Government
02:33of Trinidad and Tobago and the international diplomatic teams at the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:39Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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