Caracas watching Manning’s words

VENEZUELAN officials in Caracas are now closely examining Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s post-Cabinet statements Thursday in which he blames Venezuela for Trinidad and Tobago’s escalating crime situation. After the analysis is completed, the Venezuelans are expected to issue a response. That response is expected next week.

Manning at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference told reporters that there was “reason to believe” that there was a link between the increase in the number of guns here and the political disturbances in Venezuela. Manning suggested that because of Venezuela’s internal conflict, authorities there were not as vigilant with security on its borders, which allowed the Columbian drug lords to take advantage of the lapse, enabling them to bring guns to Trinidad.

A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Caracas yesterday said clippings of Manning’s statement were yesterday dispatched to them by officials at the local embassy here in Port-of-Spain. The source noted that the clippings would be thoroughly perused before a statement is prepared and issued here in Trinidad by the embassy. That response is expected to be very diplomatic.

The source staunchly denied that Venezuela’s internal conflicts, which began in November last year, in any way resulted in a lapse in general security in the South American country. As a matter of fact, the source insisted that security was increased because authorities recognised that persons could have taken advantage of the country’s turmoil. Efforts to reach Venezuelan Ambassador to TT, Hector Azocar proved futile.