Port of Spain Trinidad – Tensions between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have escalated after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar persona non grata.

The announcement follows days of diplomatic friction and accusations that Trinidad and Tobago was cooperating with the U.S. in a “false flag” operation. The declaration effectively bars Persad-Bissessar from entering Venezuelan territory and signals a further breakdown in relations between the two neighbouring states.

The Maduro-led administration announced its intention to debate a motion during a sitting of its National Assembly to declare Persad-Bissessar as persona non grata, accusing her of making statements that “affect national sovereignty” and promoting “stigmas” against Venezuelan migrants in the Caribbean.

In a WhatsApp message to Island Press Box on October 28, Persad-Bissessar said, “I am not daunted by this at all. 

“This just continues their pattern of bullying behaviour against their neighbours.”

She also questioned why the Venezuelan government was not taking similar action against US President Donald Trump, who has led the war against drugs in the Caribbean that has seen US military warships being deployed in the region and prompted fears of an invasion in Venezuela.

USS Gravely photo credit Ian Alleyne Facebook page

“Those warships are American property, why isn’t the Venezuelan government calling President Trump’s name?” Persad-Bissessar asked. “Why aren’t they making declarations of persona non grata against him? The answer is obvious.”

She said her government will continue to support drug interdiction exercises in international waters.

Neither Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs nor the Office of the Prime Minister has yet issued an official response.

Venezuela has strongly condemned Trinidad and Tobago for allowing the US warship, the USS Gravely, to dock in Port of Spain on October 26.

On October 27, Maduro announced the immediate suspension of energy deals, including the Dragon gas deal, with Trinidad and Tobago. Persad-Bissessar has said Trinidad and Tobago is not dependent on the Dragon gas deal for its economic stability.

Asked on October 28 if she regretted any of the actions that led to this declaration by the Venezuelan Parliament, Persad-Bissessar said, “Over 10,000 people have been murdered in our country in the last 20 years because of drug fueled gang violence. 

“There is nothing to regret in trying to protect our citizens from murder and violence.” She added that the best interests of Trinidad and Tobago citizens must always come first.