00:00The United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela's interim president, Delcey Rodriguez,
00:07further normalizing relations between the two countries.
00:11However, opposition leader Penelope Beckels notes, just seven miles away,
00:16Prime Minister Kamala Posada-Besasa remains persona non grata.
00:21They said all sorts of things about Delcey Rodriguez.
00:24As a matter of fact, my question to the Prime Minister is whether or not she supports Delcey Rodriguez
00:31as the president of Venezuela, which she is now, because she has never said that.
00:35But that is the question.
00:36The lifting of sanctions allows for Venezuela to foster and strengthen business
00:41and investor relationships with the United States and other partners.
00:46This is a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago,
00:51for the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to address us.
00:55This is a matter the Prime Minister should come categorically and say that,
01:00OK, the sanctions have been removed.
01:02This is something that we have been waiting for a very long time.
01:06The door is now open.
01:07The Prime Minister should be telling us, are they going to Venezuela?
01:11What is the strategy to capitalize on the removal of sanctions?
01:15The move comes as energy giant Shell is advancing discussions with Venezuela
01:20towards the development of several natural gas sites in proximity to
01:25and partially within TNT's waters.
01:29Beckels notes, under the PNM administration,
01:32Trinidad and Tobago was well poised for direct benefit.
01:36Last year, when the Honorable Prime Minister went to New York
01:40following her attendance at the United Nations,
01:44she spoke about some agreement made between herself and them and Secretary Rubio.
01:49We were waiting patiently.
01:51The Prime Minister also spoke about herself and Munilal, the Minister of Energy, visiting.
01:57Of course, no visit has taken place,
01:59but at the end of the day, credit must go
02:02to the Honorable Churchill and Dr. Keith Christopher Rowley
02:05for the efforts, for the advocacy
02:08and for ensuring the initial signing of the Dragon Deal.
02:13The Honorable Kamala Passat-Bissessa was declared personal non-grateful.
02:17The issue is whether or not Delcey Rodriguez is now going to change
02:21from that position that the Parliament took
02:23to declare our Prime Minister personal non-grateful
02:26because that will have to be removed
02:27in order for proper discussions to take place.
02:30Shell is expected to send much of the Venezuelan gas
02:33to Trinidad for processing and subsequent export.
02:38Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
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