PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Rowley made three efforts during his visit to the United States to save the Dragon Gas deal.
Rowley raised the urgent and critical matter with US Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and congressional members led by Hakeem Jefferies.
The issue also came up during a meeting between the Prime Minister and senior officials of the US Department of Defence, headed by Daniel Erickson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Western Hemisphere.
Through direct and indirect references, Rowley attempted to get the US to exempt the Dragon Gas exploration project from sanctions being re-imposed on Venezuela.
The Prime Minister and the rest of the Trinidad and Tobago delegation pitched for the gas-rich project – with reserves of some 4.2 trillion cubic feet – not to be included when full sanctions are enforced in mid-April.
But the American leaders did not budge.
In fact, the readout of the meeting between Harris and Rowley provided a clear indication of the US’ hardline position.
“The Vice President stressed the need for Nicholas Maduro and his representatives to meet their commitments under the democratic electoral roadmap and support the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a democratic future,” the statement said.
The official report of the meeting with Blinken listed “regional challenges” among the matters discussed.
At the meeting with Jefferies and other lawmakers, Venezuela “featured prominently,” a Washington report stated.
In the meeting with Department of Defence officials, the Americans took a tough stance on “regional security and resilience” maritime security and related matters.
Diplomatic sources say that Energy Minister Stuart Young is likely to have also discussed the issue during informal talks with US counterparts.
The Rowley Administration is seeking to save the Dragon Gas project, which he has termed “a golden fleece” and a “historic achievement.”
The hard-fought venture is in danger of being torpedoed after Venezuela’s Supreme Court blocked the opposition’s Maria Corina Machado from contesting this year’s presidential election.
In a rapid-fire response, the US asked American companies to wind down their operations in Venezuela.
A full sweep of sanctions is expected to be re-imposed when a licence for operations expires on April 18.
As a result, Venezuela would not be able to bring the abundant Dragon Gas reserves to market.
The project is crucial to T&T’s economy, which is floundering with critically low gas supplies leading to the mothballing of several industrial plants.
The venture is also vital to Rowley’s re-election aspirations since it is the basis of his promises to improve the quality of life in the midst of a high cost of living and limited economic opportunities.
But the US officials did not blink, and diplomatic sources say there is little likelihood that there would be an exemption for Dragon Gas when sanctions are reinstated.
One source stressed that the US is determined to see a presidential election in Venezuela “that is free and fair and free from fear.”
As a result, the American authorities “will not relent with its sanctions,” the source stated.
Indications are that the forward path for Dragon Gas will be as troubled and challenging as its chequered history.
