T&T PM Blames Venezuelan Criminals for Rising Crime

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago is being driven by “sanction-busting Venezuelan criminals” working with local drug traffickers. Her comments follow confirmation that a new US radar system will be installed in Tobago.

In a post on her X account, Persad-Bissessar said the radar will help detect illegal activities such as crude oil smuggling, drug and gun trafficking, and human trafficking from Venezuela. 

She questioned why a previous radar system, used when the Opposition was in government, failed to detect ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned Venezuelan oil in Trinidad’s waters. Documents, she said, listed Trinidad as a point of origin for some of that oil.

The Prime Minister argued that the new radar will strengthen national security and provide better protection than before. Her remarks come as the United States expands its military presence in the Caribbean and steps up pressure on Venezuela.

Recently, US forces carried out more than 20 operations against suspected Venezuelan drug groups. Persad-Bissessar has supported these actions but denies that Trinidad and Tobago will be used for any military strike on Venezuela.