“[…] The state of our bilateral investment relationship can be improved. The United States Government cannot mandate its companies to invest here, unlike others that can direct their state-owned enterprises to invest regardless of whether they make a profit or not. “Instead, US investors are attracted to countries where …
Read More »‘Maduro and his backers—not sanctions—are to blame’; US reject culpability for Venezuela crisis
“[…] It is Maduro and his backers—not sanctions—who are to blame for the Venezuelan people suffering dire economic, political, and human rights conditions, and have caused millions to flee their homes since he assumed power. “The Venezuela sanctions program is designed to limit the Maduro regime’s sources of revenue and …
Read More »Dear Editor: Young not ashamed of treatment of Venezuela children? He has skin like ‘crapaud leather’?
“[…] The children were treated in a cruel, inhumane and unusual way. It is utterly ridiculous for Stuart Young to pull some verbal sleight of hand, arguing that they were ‘escorted’ and not ‘deported’…” The following Letter to the Editor on the deportation of 16 Venezuelan children was submitted to …
Read More »Anna Levi: The right of asylum; the Venezuelan escape—in prose
And when they enter the waters of Delta Amacuro One last look at Tucupita The wind numbs everyone Blowing kisses Venezuela te amo En mi corazon The sign of the cross Ten Hail Marys The fishermen lifted the children on top of their mother’s plastic suitcases Then they stuff their …
Read More »Dr Browne: T&T is a good neighbour, but we cannot simply open borders to Venezuelans
“[…] This hospitality continues even as our economy faces significant challenges that have affected all our people… “[…] Even developed nations with far greater resources face major challenges dealing with crossings of their borders, and no nation accepts non-nationals without due process…” The following statement on the government response to …
Read More »Dear Editor: Our treatment of Venezuela migrants will reveal Trinidad and Tobago’s true character
“[…] We should ask ourselves, ‘what would compel a mother to embark on a treacherous and uncertain seven-mile journey with her young child?’ They are human, not faceless migrants/refugees. This simple fact seemed to have been forgotten and disregarded by the authorities…” The following Letter to the Editor on Trinidad …
Read More »US ambassador: Maduro responsible for Venezuelan crisis, not sanctions!
“[…] It is [Nicholás] Maduro and his backers, not sanctions, who are to blame for the millions of Venezuelans living in dire economic conditions and who have fled their homes since he assumed power…” The following is a press statement from United States ambassador Joseph N Mondello on the Venezuela …
Read More »Noble: Are migrants a boon or curse? How to tackle Venezuelan migrant crisis
“Never before in the United Nations’ history have we had so many refugees, displaced people and asylum seekers… the world must do more to prevent forced displacement, address its root causes and support solutions for those affected by it. It requires greater resources, and more political leadership… unprecedented cooperation by …
Read More »US Embassy: US offers $20 million to offset ‘Maduro-made humanitarian crisis’ in Venezuela
“The United States is staging emergency humanitarian assistance in the region in response to Interim President Guiado’s request for aid… “These efforts follow Secretary Pompeo’s January 24, announcement that the United States is ready to provide more than $20 million in initial humanitarian assistance to the people of Venezuela, as …
Read More »Emancipation Committee: T&T gov’t must continue to defend justice and sovereignty in Venezuela
“The critical issues for us here in [Trinidad and Tobago] and the region are not how anyone feels about President Nicolás Maduro—based on knowledge, misinformation or ideology—but about fundamental principles in international relations, in particular the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states. “It is vital for …
Read More »Dear Editor: Those pesky human rights; gov’t must review treatment of refugees and LGBTQI
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GTT) behaves as if human rights are an annoyance. Two clear examples are the issue of rights of refugees and the LGBT community’s right to be treated equally under the Equal Opportunity Act 2000 (EOA). Oh, lest I forget, the EOA’s section 3 (interpretation) …
Read More »Daly Bread: Seeing it up close; what we can learn from Venezuela
Extensive comment on current events in Venezuela is not for me to make, but I am confident that events unfolding there are the outcome of a long-standing bitter polarisation between the Venezuelan political and socio-economic elite and the working class. When the poor and dispossessed eventually found a champion in …
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