The apparent message from Russia was: "The Caribbean Sea is not your lake..." Considering the gravity of the consequences, any of the issues herein should have required study prior to (not after) the no-visa decision. Did it reach the Cabinet? From such study, then the issue of a Cabinet announcement; not a verbal reply to a reporter's question. This new engagement with Russia significantly departs from the traditional structure of T&T's foreign policy. As such, it must be publicly and properly explained. Equally, many citizens will oppose (firmly) any move whatsoever to open an embassy of the Russian Federation in T&T.