Trinidad and Tobago has long standing relationships with both the US and Venezuela and is equally committed to both.
This assurance came from the country’s permanent representative at the UN, Dr Neil Parsan, at an emergency meeting of the Security Council yesterday.
In a brief statement, Dr Parsan said T&T was committed to cooperative efforts led by the US to “disrupt and dismantle networks that enable transnational crime across the Americas”.
He added that T&T was equally committed to maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with Venezuela and will continue to uphold peaceful relations.
Dr Parsan’s contribution however has been criticized as a “non-statement” by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Amery Browne.
Responding via social media, Dr Browne believes the statement lacked reference to any principles to advance the deliberations.
He added that it “conveyed no perspectives whatsoever on how the Security Council, the wider global community, and regional organizations such as CELAC and CARICOM can contribute to next steps in the regional security, political, and humanitarian circumstances related to Venezuela and the advancement of peace and stability in our region.”
Dr Browne also noted the delegation’s reference to T&T as a “Caribbean nation” as opposed to as a “CARICOM Member State” during the proceedings.
