STATUS of Forces Agreements (SOFA) with regional countries permit United States operatives to “enter and exit” at will and be granted widespread exemptions and immunities and not comply with local laws.
At Antigua-Barbuda, for example, US military has been granted sweeping rights and privileges for its personnel, equipment and supplies, including carrying arms and wearing uniforms.
The US has the right to “exercise criminal jurisdiction” over its personnel, meaning the Americans would impose its own law and order while in sovereign Antigua-Barbuda.
The US authorities could bring in property, supplies, technology and other military requirement – without paying taxes and not be subjected to licences, customs duties and other charges.
The military “shall have freedom of movement” and access to transportation, storage, training and other facilities.
American operatives are not required to have driving permits from the twin-island Caricom country.
The US could land vessels and vehicles and “move freely” in the islands and be exempt from port fees and other taxes and charges.
American aircraft are not subject to navigation, over-flight, terminal and similar charges and are “free from boarding and inspection.”
The Americans could hire any contractors “without restriction”, and they would be exempt from paying taxes.
The US authorities could operate its telecommunication system and could commandeer radio spectrums.
The updated SOFA agreement with Trinidad and Tobago has not been disclosed but is likely to be similar.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley recently became enraged when Newsday newspaper interpreted the contract to mean the US “can land troops” on Trinidad and Tobago’s soil.
Newsday quizzed Rowley on the T&T SOFA deal, but he angrily declined to explain.
There has been no media investigation into the terms of the agreement.
With T&T’s proximity to the rogue state of Venezuela, the SOFA contract could be more stringent.
Incoming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has targeted despot Nicholas Maduro and the Americans recognise Edmundo Gonzalez as the democratically elected Venezuelan leader.
Rowley is mortally afraid that any show of antagonism against Maduro could derail the lucrative Dragon Gas deal, his trump card for the upcoming general election.
Some still recall the American naval base in Chaguaramas from 1943, which, 18 years later, prompted first Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams to lead a march in the rain, chanting “Uncle Sam We Want Back We Land.”
SOFA, of course, is nowhere near to that reality, but in the absence of details and in the midst of Rowley’s raw anxiety, there is bound to be speculation.
In his denial, is Rowley playing with words?
With the lack of public disclosure, is he perhaps lying on the SOFA?
