Dear Editor: Can T&T hinge its gas future on USA’s political whims and fancies?

“[…] All other requirements being considered equal, the Dragon Gas Field is Trinidad and Tobago’s most feasible option. The obstruction is simply Donald Trump and the […] USA’s policy [which] can change at any time according to its whims and fancies.

“So, what should an independent, sovereign country do under these circumstances? Should we chart our future on the immediate policies of the USA, or keep all our options respectfully open? […]”

The following Letter to the Editor regarding how much Trinidad and Tobago should kow-tow to US president Donald Trump in relation to its oil and gas business was submitted to Wired868 by Kelvin McClean of San Fernando:

As far as the physical characteristics and logistics are concerned, the Dragon Field is the closest, largest known, proven and most readily accessible gas reserves to Trinidad and Tobago among others at this time.

It is only seven miles away, and a neighbouring pipeline is already in place to bring the gas to Trinidad Atlantic LNG plants. All other requirements being considered equal, it is Trinidad and Tobago’s most feasible option.

The obstruction is simply Donald Trump and the USA. The USA’s policy is not cast in concrete and can change at any time according to its whims and fancies.

So, what should an independent, sovereign country do under these circumstances? Should we chart our future on the immediate policies of the USA, or keep all our options respectfully open?

The narrative that the Dragon Gas was the only gas initiative pursued is patently false. There are about 27 other fields in Trinidad and Tobago that are at various stages of development and production. So, let’s put that particular nonsense to rest.

The questioning of Trinidad and Tobago dealing with the “dictator” Nicolas Maduro is equally foolish. The USA, as we speak, is importing 250K barrels of crude oil per day from the very same Maduro’s Venezuela.

The USA has also sent representatives to Venezuela to secure the release and exchange of prisoners. The important lesson here is that the USA will always do what is in their best interests and so have no fixed, consistent policies per se.

The USA, at present, is friendly with Saudi Arabia, which is a total dictatorship. Women can’t drive. There are no allowances for protests or oppositions by their citizens, etc.

Jail and disappearances are the norm there. But they are the best of friends with the USA.

China president Xi Jinping operates with no opposition party or room for protest—there or in Hong Kong. China is seeking ways to take over Taiwan. Don’t even mention Trump’s not infrequent cosying up relationship with Russia strongman Vladimir Putin.

So, the very dotish talk that Maduro is a dictator, and so Trinidad and Tobago can’t deal with him, is inconsistent nonsense.

The USA has imposed sanctions for the past 60 years on Cuba. Cuba may be undemocratic, but Cuba is no existential threat to anybody. Yet the crippling USA sanctions remain in place.

Lately, the USA has sought to revoke or not award visas to any government ministers who facilitate Cuba. But, by and large, the majority of Caricom has chosen to reject the USA in this regard and accept the possible loss of visas.

But do you know who has chosen to throw our Cuban brothers under the bus for their own personal benefit? You guessed it. The Caricom unpatriotics.

I understand that there are basically fundamental differences in the moral and spiritual values of various persons, and unless these are addressed and changed, arguments like this would always arise without ever having a mutual agreement. The foundations must be changed.

To relieve the unpatriotic peculiar discomfort, I offer some simple guidance in this respect. Small, independent, sovereign countries like Trinidad and Tobago, must adopt two simple credos.

The first is that of non-intervention in another country’s internal affairs. And the second is to subscribe to the many international bodies that govern disputes and associations between countries. These two criteria are enough for a satisfactory existence in the world-politic.

We complain about the terrible and inequitable state of the world, which is largely due to each nation seeking to take care of themselves first before proposing to help others.

But when will any nation solve all their needs, as a pre-condition to help others? This will simply never happen. So why do we refuse to help others because of our lack?

To put my position into context, Nelson Mandela is my best example of a politician. He wanted nothing for himself and always sought the improvement of all men as best he could.

Trinidad and Tobago, patriots and unpatriotic alike, would do well to emulate this great man.

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