National Security Minister Stuart Young says he will be meeting with the T&T Coast Guard soon to discuss why Venezuela's Guardia Nacional is being allowed to patrol in territorial waters and attack local fishermen.
His comments came after fisherman Marvin Farria was reportedly shot at by the Guardia Nacional while fishing in local waters.
The incident prompted fishermen to call on Young to explain why the Guardia Nacional was not being stopped from entering T&T waters and attacking them.
Speaking to the Guardian Media on Monday, Young said, “Trinidad and Tobago has not waived its sovereign rights over our territorial waters. The allegations being raised are serious ones. As Minister of National Security, I intend to discuss these allegations of actions taking place in our territorial waters with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Thereafter discussions will be had with Venezuela, once warranted."
He denied the Coast Guard had problems with fuel supplies for their vessels.
"As far as I am aware there are no issues with the TTCG being able to operate their vessels based on a lack of fuel," he said.
Over the weekend, fishermen reported two sightings of the Guardia Nacional in local waters.
One fisherman said the Guardia Nacional's armed interceptor vessel has been patrolling off the coast of Bonasse, Cedros since last Thursday. It was again seen in territorial waters off Green Hill, Cedros on Saturday.
He also said on Friday a Venezuelan vessel transporting Venezuelans to Trinidad capsized at sea while being followed by the Guardia Nacional.
A day later, a Cedros fishing crew reported that they saw a group of Venezuelans near the Soldado Rock calling for help. They were in the water. The fisherman said they were afraid to approach the foreigners. A distress call was made to the T&T Coast Guard asking for assistance.
Councillor for the area Shankar Teelucksingh said the bold patrols being made by the Guardia Nacional was suspicious and seemed to suggest that they have permission to patrol in T&T's territorial waters.
Naparima MP Rodney Charles called on Young to explain why, despite having 12 vessels, the T&T Coast Guard is never available.
He noted that six to seven fishermen were held by Venezuelans within the past week and had to pay $15,000 each to secure their release.
He added that last April the Guardia Nacional entered territorial waters and took away three fishermen who were incarcerated in Venezuela for allegedly fishing in Venezuelan waters.
"After this incident, even workers at Trinmar’s offshore installations expressed fear for their safety and refused to work. Though our waters were invaded, the Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs (Dennis Moses) did not forward a diplomatic note to the Venezuelan Government. The number of reported incidents where our citizens are being attacked and detained by Venezuelans with our Coast Guard nowhere to be seen is becoming alarming.
A senior official of the Ministry of National Security said the T&T Coast Guard had no reports of Venezuelans stranded at sea or of the Guardia Nacional patrolling local waters.