00:00On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kamala Posad-Bissarca revealed that government is preparing to send
00:06a diplomatic delegation to Venezuela to pursue what she describes as Trinidad and Tobago's
00:12just share of oil and gas.
00:15Speaking with the Morning Edition, international relations expert Emwale Henry says, while
00:21the country urgently needs access to additional oil and gas resources, it may not currently
00:27be in a negotiating position of strength.
00:29I know Venezuela will ensure that they get their power flesh, seen as they did not have
00:36that political satisfaction through the engagements and interventions of the US.
00:41And usually smaller partners, smaller states get the shorter end of the stick because they
00:48may not have been able to advance their bravado with bigger nations.
00:53So that, for me, would be our question. TNT will be on a diplomatic back foot.
01:00So it's yet to see what will be the outcome.
01:03Henry also addresses ongoing tensions with CARICOM, following claims that this country was
01:09deliberately excluded from the voting process surrounding the reappointment of Secretary
01:14General Carla Burnett, noting that one of the country's allies, Guyana, said the process
01:20was fair. Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissensa has strongly criticized the move and vowed
01:26to pursue the matter ruthlessly.
01:28And one of her closest allies that she, as we say in Trinidad, jumped out to fight for,
01:34you know, without asking, this ally isn't batting in the same innings or running with the Prime
01:42Minister on the scene as it relates to this issue. So it tells me that Trinidad and Tobago isn't in
01:49a diplomatic advantage for this argument or tussle about the appointment.
01:55Henry cautions against the government's suggestion of withholding funding to CARICOM,
02:01warning that such action could trigger negative diplomatic repercussions for this country.
02:06You would have heard from the former Prime Minister, Ralf Gonzalez, who indicated that,
02:11you know, if this pathway is pursued and even veiled threats of withdrawing funding towards
02:20CARICOM is pursued, that Trinidad and Tobago can lose its preferential access to CARICOM markets. So
02:27the concern is real. Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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