No move against OAS head

In response to this question from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath in the House of Representatives, Moses replied, “The answer is no.” He disagreed withn Padarath’s claim that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s call for Almagro’s removal was “off the cuff ” and “made in isolation”.

Government MPs thumped their desks as Moses replied, “No. I cannot say so.” When Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal asked what was Government’s problem with Almagro, Moses said, “I think it would have been articulately expressed when the views of the Government of TT were made known recently by the Honourable Prime Minister.” On Wednesday, upon his return from Chile, Rowley condemned “the derogatory manner” in which Almagro dealt with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with respect to the ongoing tensions in Venezuela.

At the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said, “TT has been very, very cautious and very calculated and very definitive in its position at the OAS with respect to Venezuela.” He also said this position was not influenced by TT’s ongoing efforts to secure a gas sales agreement for Venezuela’s Dragon Field. Rowley and Young have previously expressed optimism that this agreement could be reached by July.