Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Photo: Prior Beharry/AFP.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil called Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s response to President Nicolás Maduro Moros’ complaint about criminals entering Venezuela from Trinidadian territory “irate and unjustified.”
In a statement released on Friday, June 6, Venezuela expressed “profound surprise” at the Trinidadian prime minister’s “virulent and strident attitude,” which raises “serious suspicions of complicity in this incursion and compromises the good relations of cooperation between our countries in key areas.”
Venezuela’s statement followed the arrest of Trinidadian mercenaries who allegedly entered the country on June 2 as part of a multinational armed group associated with far-right terrorist plots.
Trinidad and Tobago rejected the accusations, marking a sharp deterioration in typically cordial relations between the Caribbean neighbors.
Earlier, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Defense dismissed Venezuela’s claims, stating that a preliminary investigation—conducted in less than 24 hours—found no evidence of an armed operation against Venezuela launched from its territory. “Currently, we have no evidence to indicate that a terrorist group attempted to enter Venezuela through our border,” the ministry said.
On Thursday, June 5, Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar warned of potential incursions from Venezuela and threatened to use “deadly force” against unidentified Venezuelan vessels entering Trinidadian waters.
Xenophobic statements
Persad-Bissessar denied any Trinidadian involvement in the alleged plot. The twin-island nation of 1.4 million people faces rising violence, with the United States ranking it as the world’s sixth most dangerous country last year.
She blamed Venezuelan migrants for the worsening security situation in the country, saying, “I warned before the elections: crimes linked to Venezuelans continue to rise. I urge Venezuelan migrants to voluntarily return to their country.”
The remarks echoed unfounded claims tying Venezuelan migrants to the Tren de Aragua gang, which some in Trinidad and Tobago hold responsible for local crime issues.
Communique
The unofficial translation of the Venezuelan statement follows:
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expresses its profound astonishment at the irate and unjustified reaction of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in response to a legitimate complaint made by President Nicolás Maduro Moros regarding the entry of criminal elements from Trinidadian territory into Venezuela.
Venezuela has captured criminals of Trinidadian origin who have confessed to their plans, statements that have been duly supported with compelling evidence presented by the competent authorities.
The appropriate course of action in this serious situation is to offer cooperation and a willingness to clarify the situation. The prime minister’s virulent and high-flown attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity in this incursion and jeopardizes the good relations of cooperation that exist between our countries in key areas.
Venezuela urges the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago not to engage in geopolitical games that are alien to the interests of our peoples, and reaffirms its commitment to peace, sovereignty, and mutual respect, highlighting that any legitimate concerns must be resolved through diplomatic channels and not through threats or unfounded statements that only fuel artificial tensions.
Caracas, June 6, 2025
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SC
