Maduro ‘a dictator’

Local psychic Yesenia Gonzalez, a Venezuelan who has been residing in this country for a number of years, told Sunday Newsday the march went very well and many Venezuelan professionals came out.

Gonzalez said Maduro is a “dictator” and people are being killed and children are starving due to lack of food. She said many Venezuelans are running from the country because of the food shortage and the difficulties they face.

“Sometimes they only get one item to eat a day. Is that a good government?” she asked.

She said those who are fighting for their freedom in Venezuela are being crushed and within the country the news is being controlled. Sunday Newsday attempted to contact Trinidadians in Venezuela last week but was informed that they were afraid to speak out, even off the record.

On April 28, local Venezuelans held a 10 minute protest outside the Venezuelan Embassy.

Local protesters have criticised Venezuelan Ambassador to this country Coromoto Godoy-Calder?n saying she has been downplaying the crisis in Venezuela in her public statements.

Last Friday, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said Government “continues to monitor the situation without getting involved in the internal affairs of Venezuela.” Responding to a question in the House of Representatives, Dillon said the situation in the South American nation, “continues to be very fluid and dynamic.” The minister said an impact analysis of the situation is ongoing, “with respect to various scenarios and possible courses of action.” He identified the immigration flow out of Venezuela, narco- trafficking, gun trafficking and human trafficking as some things being actively monitored.

Dillon said Government liaises regularly with “our military attache in Venezuela” and also holds periodic meetings with the Venezuelan Embassy in TT. The minister explained that Venezuelan citizens can stay for 90 days in TT without a visa.