Parliamentarians from Venezuela arrived in Port-of-Spain yesterday for separate meetings with Government officials to secure the release of their nationals at the Detention Centre, Aripo. The delegation, which was led by Venezuelan Ambassador in Port-of-Spain, Maria Eugenia Marcano Casada, met with acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Roodal Moonilal, at the Cabildeo Chambers office of the Attorney General, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain.
Moonilal said the venue was chosen because he had other meetings at that location yesterday.
Following the meeting, Moonilal said the issue of human trafficking in T&T, the detention of T&T fishermen by the Venezuela National Guard, along with the detention of Venezuelans in T&T were some of the issues discussed. The Venezuelans were scheduled to meet with National Security Minister John Sandy, Minister in the National Security Ministry, Subhas Panday, chairman of the Police Service Commission Professor Ramesh Deosaran, Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj.
Moonilal said the team was also expected to visit the dentention centre in Aripo where some 32 Venezuelan nationals were detained. "They are looking to see how best the matter (detention of their nationals) can be resolved," Moonilal said. He added the Venezuelans were trying to finalise an early release of those who may be eligible. Moonilal said there were either six or seven T&T fishermen detained in Venezuela. He said the T&T Government, via the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, and other officials "are working with the Venezuelan authorities" for a speedy release of the T&T citizens detained by the South American nation.
"We are hoping for smooth relations so the detention of citizens in Venezuela and T&T will not be unfair, unjust and unduly hard, notwithstanding the seriousness of some of the allegations," said Dr Moonilal, whose substantive portfolio is Housing and the Environment. "Over the years we have had some tensions and I believe we are trying to reduce the tension by having bilateral agreements that both countries will follow," he added. Moonilal said the T&T Government would like to see "our high-seas conflicts" with Venezuela reduced to zero.