PM Critiques Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Remarks on Maduro Government

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has criticized Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her attacks on the Venezuelan government, indicating her comments could threaten the Dragon gas deal vital for Trinidad and Tobago. He warned that provoking the U.S. could jeopardize ongoing arrangements essential for future gas supplies, urging citizens to exercise caution.

In a recent statement, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley condemned Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her remarks regarding the Maduro government of Venezuela. He accused her of attempting to undermine the Dragon gas deal between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, which is critical to the nation’s energy landscape. Rowley made these comments in a Facebook post dated February 27 after Persad-Bissessar characterized Maduro’s regime as “dictatorial, kleptocratic and drug-trafficking” on February 25.

Persad-Bissessar’s statements included criticism of Energy Minister Stuart Young, claiming he facilitated the Dragon gas deal and other energy arrangements between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. She further suggested that Rowley was indifferent to his engagements with Venezuela as he prepares for retirement from electoral politics and predicted a similar negative outcome for Young post-Rowley.

The backdrop of this controversy includes the vital Dragon gas project, which was granted a license for development by the Venezuelan government to NGC and Shell in December 2023. This license is pivotal due to previous sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the United States, which had left the $1 billion project in a state of uncertainty since its initial signing in August 2018 under former President Donald Trump.

Rowley criticized Persad-Bissessar’s comments as detrimental and warned that they might provoke actions from the United States that could jeopardize Trinidad and Tobago’s energy interests. He observed that her attack on Maduro was likely intended to incite aggression against Venezuela, thus threatening the ongoing arrangements that sustain Trinidad and Tobago’s gas supply.

Despite his criticism, Rowley acknowledged Persad-Bissessar’s grasp of the term “kleptocratic,” highlighting the irony of her using the term against Maduro. He labeled her actions as reckless and detrimental to the interests of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, urging the public to be vigilant about the potential consequences of such political rhetoric.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s condemnation of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar emphasizes the potential dangers of her criticisms of the Venezuelan regime. He warns that her comments might jeopardize the crucial Dragon gas deal and appeal to U.S. authorities to act against Venezuela, which could disrupt Trinidad and Tobago’s energy supply. Rowley’s remarks underscore the need for political discourse that safeguards national interests in the realm of international relations.

Original Source: newsday.co.tt