That statement came four hours after one was first posted on Facebook around 4 pm by the ministry, and then retracted. That post was left up for at least an hour.
In a WhatsApp response to Guardian Media, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sean Sobers said the release was retracted because the Government was “still assessing the situation”, adding that another statement would be issued.
The second statement saw the removal of the term “allies” and also expressed sympathy for the loss of life.
BY the time the year comes to a close on December 31, the United States would have carried out one of the largest naval deployments to the Caribbean in more than two decades, sending multiple warships, 15,000 troops and the world’s largest aircraft carrier into waters once considered a “zone of peace”.
Accompanied by nearly 30 lethal so-called “boat strikes” that have killed at least 100 traversing the Caribbean and Pacific, the build-up sent the region’s small islands and South American countries into uncertainty, stoking fear of escalation, armed conflict and, in the case of Venezuela, the possibility of forced regime change.
When asked whether he assessed the risk of leaving at that time given that it was one month into the repeated US strikes, she answered, “I believe so, and he took that risk.”
When Guardian Media asked her why he took that risk, she responded, “I know about the sea law; I know since I was young. If it’s a boat, whatever, you’re supposed to stop it, see. The law is not to kill people. Wherever you are, you are not to kill people like that. This is the first time in my life, and I am 51 years old; I have never heard about this kind of stuff,” she said.
On having her son labelled a narco-trafficker, she responded, “Where is the proof? If it’s drugs, where is the proof? Where is it? You understand?”
“They have asked for no assistance about blockading in Venezuela, no, they have not,” Persad-Bissessar said after attending the funeral for former colleague Daphne Phillips.
(,,,)
When asked about Trinidad and Tobago’s position should any US military strikes occur, Persad-Bissessar stressed that the Government’s priority is to keep the country safe. She made it clear that T&T has no aggressive intent towards Venezuela.
“T and T first, that will always be our position. We have no intention of engaging in any war with Venezuela. I’ve always said we stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and we will continue so to do.”
“In keeping with established bilateral cooperation, the ministry has granted approvals for United States military aircraft to transit Trinidad and Tobago’s airports in the coming weeks,” Monday’s release stated.
(December 10, 2025)
Former director of the National Coastal Surveillance Radar Centre and National Transformation Alliance (NTA) political leader, retired Coast Guard commander Norman Dindial, said that the Prime Minister’s claim is legally unsound. He said flagless vessels are classified as stateless, not pirates, and cannot be considered lawful targets.
His comments follow renewed questions about the September 2 strike near Trinidad and Tobago’s waters, now under scrutiny for allegedly killing two survivors in a second hit. Speaking outside Parliament on Tuesday, Persad-Bissessar said the incident “had little to do with Trinidad and Tobago” and suggested the unregistered vessel may have been viewed as carrying pirates. Dindial dismissed that interpretation.
(December 10, 2025)
Asked Sunday about the “double tap” strike, Persad-Bissessar had asked for more time to research the matter.
Asked again yesterday outside the Parliament, the Prime Minister said, “I don’t see how it applies to me or what it has to do with me or Trinidad and Tobago. The United States is a sovereign nation and they are free to exercise their sovereignty in manners that they see or deem fit. I cannot be judge and jury here to determine whether they are right or whether they are wrong. Those are not within our jurisdiction or my remit.”
But Persad-Bissessar maintained that any vessel sailing without a national flag risks being classified as a pirate ship and, as such, would not be entitled to the same protections afforded to legitimate maritime vessels.
The 2026 Tobago House of Assembly election is required to be held in Tobago between 12 January and 12 February 2026, following the dissolution of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) on 12 November 2025.[1][2]
“We do not want it here.”
That was the message from PNM Tobago political leader Ancil Dennis in a video posted to social media as he rejected the US military radar now spinning at the ANR Robinson International Airport.
Dennis told Tobagonians the device was brought in without proper explanation and said the Government must “carry it back to Trinidad.”
He accused the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Tobago East MP David Thomas of misleading the public by giving different descriptions of the radar.
Yet another US Marine aircraft was detected overnight heading into Tobago, the fourth of its kind over the course of the past week, as imagery on the island appeared to depict a powerful air defence US radar system at the ANR Robinson international Airport.
The sightings come after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday confirmed the US military presence on the sister isle, backtracking on previous claims that previous military aircraft sighted on the island were only there to help the country with a “roadway.”
On Wednesday, when a C-17 Globemaster with the words Air Force emblazoned on its side was spotted at Tobago’s airport, a picture of the aeroplane was circulated widely on social media, with several citizens questioning its purpose.
Later that day, outside the Red House, the Prime Minister explained that the aircraft had brought in US marines to assist in constructing a roadway. At the time, she said that, to her knowledge, there were no longer any marines in the country. However, US marines were later seen at a popular hotel in Tobago. The day after, the Prime Minister clarified that following further inquiries, she had been informed that marines were still in Tobago and were assisting with work on the runway, roadway, and radar system at Tobago’s airport.
(November 25, 2025)
War Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, today to meet the country’s top leaders, including President Luis Abinader, Minister of Defence Lt Gen Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre and other officials, the Associated Press reported yesterday.
The announcement came the same day that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met yesterday.
(November 25, 2025)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told Persad-Bissessar that the United States remained committed to working with Trinidad and Tobago to „address shared threats and deepen collaboration across the Caribbean,“ the Pentagon said.
He also accused the Government of withholding critical information, which he said continued to stir panic and unease among the public.
Gonzales also pointed to the absence of Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, especially as the media briefing involved matters related to the country’s security assets.
(…)
Browne added that survivors of recent US kinetic strikes were taken briefly to the United States before being returned to their home countries without facing charges. He said the Government continues to encourage actions that the United Nations has found to violate international law and continues to presuppose that all those killed at sea were guilty. “It would appear that the guilt or innocence of these persons is predicated only on the basis of whether they are killed or whether they survive,” he said.
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers says the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will be coming to this country to take part in military training exercises from November 16 to 21 with the local Defence Force.
His announcement came yesterday, one day after Attorney General John Jeremie told the UK’s Financial Times that the United States military is expected to intensify exercises in T&T.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General John Jeremie has reportedly told the Financial Times that US’ military exercises would intensify in T&T in the coming days, with members of the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The report comes on the heels of the arrival of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)- the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the world- in Caribbean waters, as well as the US Department of War’s announcement of Operation ‘Southern Spear’.
On Sunday, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)-European Union summit participants signed a joint declaration in Santa Marta, Colombia, which contains an article citing the “situation in the Caribbean and Pacific” and calling for dialogue and cooperation. Although present, T&T distanced itself from that specific point.
(…)
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously welcomed the US presence, promising the US unflinching access to the country’s territory in the event of a Venezuelan attack on neighbouring Guyana.
(October 18, 2025)
Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met and discussed various issues on the regional agenda including the increased security build up in the Caribbean and the potential impacts on Member States. Save in respect of Trinidad and Tobago who reserved its position, Heads agreed on the following:
They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict. CARICOM remains willing to assist towards that objective.
CARICOM Heads of Government reiterated their continued commitment to fighting narcotrafficking and the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons which adversely affect the Region. They underscored that efforts to overcome these challenges should be through ongoing international cooperation and within international law.
They reaffirmed unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Region and the safety and livelihoods of the people of the Region.
“This represents the first time in our records that a prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago would have proudly and publicly associated this nation with violations of international human rights of the UN Charter and International law,” he said.
Browne said the Prime Minister of T&T has continued to double down and triple down, including very recently her public stance in support of these extra-judicial killings.
He said while the US is not one of the state parties to the ICC, Trinidad and Tobago is, having been one of the founders.
(November 1, 2025)
Tension is rapidly growing in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago after a U.S. newspaper reported that the U.S. was poised to strike military targets in Venezuela, as the U.S. military buildup in the region continues.
MILITARY COMMANDERS have devised three specific courses of action to be taken in the event of any land strikes involving US forces and neighbouring Venezuela.
This follows a mandatory call-out of thousands of active soldiers, sailors and other personnel on October 31 to report for duty by 6 pm and a subsequent lockdown of all military installations.
(…)
The combination of a motion to extend the state of emergency for three months being debated in Parliament, media reports of an imminent strike to Venezuela, sparked a wave of anxiety in some parts of the country with some schools ending earlier and private businesses shutting their doors.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar later called for calm, vowing to keep the public informed of any major developments.
On October 31, Persad-Bissessar said she was unaware of reports that TT Defence Force (TTDF) personnel had been ordered to immediately return to base. She added she would find out and repeated her statement for people to remain calm in the face of reports which claimed US military strikes against targets in Venezuela were imminent.
Panday said, „The concern is that the head of the NSC should at least be aware of why the Defence Force was placed on high alert.“
She added if Persad-Bissessar genuinely did not know, „that raises serious questions about communication and coordination at the highest level of government, especially in a time of regional tension.“
Police in the Maracas Bay district are now officially investigating the disappearance of 26-year-old Las Cuevas fisherman Chad Joseph, whose relatives and community members have publicly claimed he was among the men killed in a US military strike at sea two weeks ago.
Joseph, of Salvary Lane, St Michael’s Village, Las Cuevas, was reported missing on Saturday evening by a 37-year-old businesswoman. She told police that the last time she saw him was on the morning of April 25, when he told her he was going fishing. He never returned.
The family of 26-year-old fisherman Chad Joseph, who is believed to have been killed in a US airstrike, has filed a missing person report with the Maracas Bay Police.
Police said a relative reported that Joseph was last seen around 5 am on April 25, when he said he was going out to fish from his home at Salvary Lane, St Michaels Village, Las Cuevas. He was not seen again.
Officers said the relative later chose not to complete a formal statement until speaking with an attorney.
Es el mismo guion imperial del barco Maine y del Golfo de Tonkin: fabricar un conflicto para imponer intereses ajenos a nuestra región.
Venezuela actúa con firmeza y responsabilidad: en nuestro territorio se está desmantelando una célula criminal financiada por la CIA vinculada a esta operación encubierta. Esperamos que Trinidad y Tobago haga lo propio y no permita que su territorio sea usado para maniobras que amenazan la paz del Caribe.
Respetamos al pueblo de Trinidad y Tobago y confiamos en su conciencia para impedir que su país sea arrastrado a una operación sucia de guerra.
Venezuela no caerá en provocaciones, pero nadie se confunda: defenderemos nuestra soberanía sin titubeos. La Primera Ministra Kamla Persad-Bissessar debe asumir su responsabilidad ante el Caribe y ante la historia: o se pone del lado de la paz o se hunde en la agenda de la CIA.
The allegation came a day after Venezuela said it had arrested what it called mercenaries linked to the CIA.
“On our territory a criminal cell financed by the CIA and linked to this covert operation is being dismantled,” Gil said.
US President Donald Trump said recently he has approved covert action in Venezuela and is considering launching operations on Venezuelan territory.
(18 hours ago)
Venezuela says it has thwarted what it calls a CIA-linked plot to attack a US warship anchored in Trinidad.
It claims the US would have blamed Venezuela for the attack on the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, to justify aggression against it.
The allegation comes a day after Venezuela said it had arrested mercenaries it alleged were connected to the US intelligence agency.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement he had advised Trinidad and Tobago of the alleged false-flag operation.