‘We Stand By Our Neighbor’: Trinidad Backs Venezuela Government

Paula Gopee-Scoon (left), Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Industry | Photo: Efe

Paula Gopee-Scoon, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Industry, reiterated her country's support for the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro earlier this week.

Despite the deteriorating political, social and economic situation, including a series of blatant imperialist and interventionists remarks made by U.S. officials, Goope-Scoon made the position of the Trinidadian and Tobago's government clear during a development initiative in Moruga.

“Every country has its good times and bad times. We stand by our neighbor and look forward to a better relationship. We have a lot of work to do in terms of trade, we also trade in energy services as well and also energy products,” Gopee-Scoon said.

She added that Trinidad and Tobago continues to export food and other goods to Venezuela, fulfilling the terms of previous trade agreements.

On Friday, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reported that the Minister of Industry had also expressed encouragement over all the gas arrangements bearing fruit between the two nations. “I see a great future in terms of trade in energy and goods,” Goope-Scoon concluded.

When questioned about recently discovered oil fields in Guyana, she emphasized that Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley had already discussed possible oil trade deals with his counterpart, Guyanese President David Granger.

This week, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Louis Straker, the outgoing Chairman of the CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations, COFCOR, have expressed their full-fledged support to Maduro's government.

While Gonsalves emphasized his concern that a small group of powerful nations within the Organization of American States use their power to subvert the Venezuelan government, Straker stated that he's confident that the Caribbean community would stand firmly behind Maduro's administration.

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