Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Opposition Senator and former Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne says he has little confidence that proposed talks between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez will produce any meaningful outcome.
Browne was responding to Persad-Bissessar’s announcement that she intends to meet with Rodriguez during the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month.
Speaking at an Opposition media conference at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Browne questioned the manner in which the proposed meeting was being discussed publicly.
He said meetings between heads of government require a formal diplomatic process and cannot be arranged through public exchanges.
“Experience has taught us, especially with regard to foreign affairs, we really cannot expect the best from this government,” Browne said.
While expressing hope that relations between T&T and Venezuela can be repaired, Browne said the early signs are not encouraging. He noted that arranging a meeting between two heads of government is a serious diplomatic undertaking that requires formal correspondence and extensive preparation.
“That’s a very sober enterprise for which there are specific steps that must be taken and correspondence exchanged, preparations that must be under way,” he said.
Browne questioned whether the Prime Minister was attempting to reverse course after months of strained rhetoric between the two countries. He suggested that the Government appeared to be relying on informal channels to communicate diplomatic intentions.
“This thing where, I guess, the negative signals and rhetoric was exchanged via social media, maybe the Prime Minister is retracing her steps and is trying to use those very informal means, I would say almost naive means. It does not work like that,” he said.
Earlier, Browne criticised Persad-Bissessar’s recent public declaration that she loves Rodriguez, arguing that such statements do not constitute statesmanship or diplomacy.
He said the Prime Minister’s current position must be viewed against the backdrop of her Government’s earlier statements and actions toward Venezuela.
Browne maintained that relations between T&T and Venezuela were already at an optimal level before Persad-Bissessar returned to office and accused the Government of damaging those ties before attempting to reset them.
He also questioned whether T&T had formally apologised to Venezuela, or taken steps to have Persad-Bissessar’s designation as persona non grata rescinded.
Despite his concerns, Browne said he hopes the proposed engagement succeeds in the best interest of T&T.
“We wish for the best outcomes,” he said, adding that the Opposition wants the country’s foreign relations to be guided by “principle, consistency and dignity.”
Browne said the Opposition would welcome any genuine effort to improve relations with Venezuela but maintained that the Government’s recent handling of the matter gives little reason for confidence.
