PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles Saturday expressed concern over the safety of Trinidad and Tobago diplomats based in Venezuela, after the United States confirmed that it had captured President Nicolas Maduro and flown him out of the country.
Pennelope Beckles (File Photo)“We have taken note of the Prime Minister’s three-line statement this morning which made no reference to the fact that Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy with staff in Caracas. We place on record our concern for the safety and welfare of the staff and all T&T nationals in Venezuela,” Beckles said in a statement.
In her statement, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that Trinidad and Tobago did not participate in the United States military action against Venezuela.
“Earlier this morning, Saturday, 3rd January 2026, the United States commenced military operations within the territory of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations,” Persad-Bissessar said in a statement posted on X.
“Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” she added.
Beckles said “at this critical time we pray for peace to be restored, for calm to prevail, and for the safety and well-being of all those affected ”.
She said that Washington’s actions in Caracas “are deeply troubling” and that “while some information remains unclear and unconfirmed, any such development in our immediate geographic space is a matter of serious concern for Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM, and the wider Caribbean.
“Trinidad and Tobago consistently upheld the principles of respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” she said, adding that the People’s National Movement “reaffirms our party’s firm commitment to our country and all countries maintaining the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and we caution against actions that may further destabilise the region and endanger civilian lives.
“We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint, respect international law, and pursue dialogue and diplomatic solutions. The protection and preservation of human life must remain paramount,” the Opposition Leader said in her statement.
