PM Rowley Critiques Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Remarks on Venezuelan Government

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley criticized Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her negative comments on the Venezuelan government while claiming these could jeopardize the Dragon gas deal. Persad-Bissessar labeled Maduro’s regime as corrupt and suggested the Energy Minister may face repercussions. The ongoing Dragon project, vital for energy supply, has been under scrutiny amid shifting U.S. foreign policy.

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, has criticized Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her remarks regarding the Venezuelan government. In a Facebook post dated February 27, he contended that her statements aimed to undermine the Dragon gas deal between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, which is vital for the nation’s energy sector.

On February 25, Ms. Persad-Bissessar described President Nicolás Maduro’s administration as a “dictatorial, kleptocratic and drug-trafficking” regime. She accused Energy Minister Stuart Young, who is set to assume the prime ministership on March 16, of facilitating the Dragon deal alongside other energy partnerships between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Ms. Persad-Bissessar insinuated that Premier Rowley is indifferent to the implications of his collaboration with Venezuela, particularly as he nears retirement from political life. She predicted that Minister Young would face a similar negative outcome as Rowley. In his rebuttal, Rowley recalled past criticisms directed at the government’s efforts to secure the Dragon deal by Persad-Bissessar and MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal.

On December 21, 2023, the Venezuelan government granted the necessary license to the National Gas Company (NGC) and Shell for the development and export of natural gas from the Dragon gas field to Trinidad and Tobago, facilitated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Biden Administration. Concerns about the deal’s future emerged following Donald Trump’s election on November 4.

The original $1 billion Dragon gas deal was first signed in August 2018 but became stalled due to U.S. sanctions imposed on Venezuela in 2019 during Trump’s presidency. In a letter to Trump, Prime Minister Rowley expressed the importance of maintaining strong relations between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

In response to Ms. Persad-Bissessar’s accusations, Rowley characterized her remarks as unpatriotic, suggesting they might provoke Venezuelan authorities and jeopardize beneficial agreements with Trinidad and Tobago. He emphasized the negative impact any U.S. action against Venezuela could have on Trinidad and Tobago’s access to future gas supplies.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the rare usage of the term “kleptocratic” by Persad-Bissessar while questioning the motivations behind her statements. He warned the public about the potential consequences of her remarks, urging citizens to remain vigilant against actions that may harm the country’s interests.

In summary, the ongoing political tensions between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Opposition highlight the significance of the Dragon gas deal with Venezuela. Prime Minister Dr. Rowley’s condemnation of Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statements underscores the complexities surrounding international relations and energy partnerships that are critical to the nation’s economy. The discourse invites public scrutiny over political motives and their implications for national interests.

Original Source: newsday.co.tt