ANOTHER DELCY RODRIGUEZ?

THE diplomatic community in Port of Spain is paying attention to Trinidad and Tobago during current power talks in Venezuela. 

Diplomats of the United States, China and other major countries are closely monitoring discussions between Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and Opposition Leader Juan Guaido. 

The envoys are monitoring whether Maduro would make another diplomatic foray into Port of Spain, as was done in May 2020, when Vice President Delcy Rodriguez made a low-key visit to shore up support for the Venezuelan regime. 

That meeting left the United States outraged, with its Ambassador to T&T Joseph Mondello saying it was a breach of the Rio Treaty. 

Mondello was even more incensed when then-National Security Minister Stuart Young claimed the Rio Treaty was not discussed in a meeting he held with the US representative. 

The ambassador issued a statement, in which he stressed that Article 20 of the Rio Treaty makes the agreement binding whether or not a country had voted in favour of a certain measure. 

The issue in dispute was Rodriguez being permitted to travel to POS, in spite of declared travel restrictions. 

T&T has been close to the disputed Maduro regime, and this has left the US deeply concerned. 

The current Maduro-Guaido talks are taking place in Mexico City, and are being brokered by Norway. 

Experts do not expect any breakthroughs in achieving democratic and humanitarian goals. 

Russia is supporting Maduro are the meetings, while the US, Canada, Britain and other countries are backing Guaido. 

This is the fourth attempt in five years to broker consensus between the opposing leaders. 

T&T is considered to be strategically important because of its location and a proposed cross-country energy project. 

The Rowley Government had attempted to play down the Rodriguez meeting, saying it pertained to Covid-19. 

But informed sources said the Venezuelan Vice President updated the T&T administration on political and foreign affairs issues in Caracas. 

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Rodriquez used an aircraft that was also sanctioned. 

Experts forecast that about seven million people would have fled Venezuela by next year because of hardship in that country.