Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the right decision to side with USA (President Trump) against narco-traffickers and dictators during Trump’s military operations off the coast of Venezuela. She was the lone female leader invited to the Shield of Americas Summit on March 7 at Trump’s hotel in Doral, Miami where geo-security and anti-narcotics plan were discussed. She was one of two CARICOM leaders to also be so invited with Guyana President Irfaan Ali the other; Ali also supported Trump’s policy against drug trafficking and the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro who had threatened to take over two thirds of Guyana.
PM Kamla must be commended for the courage and conviction of her position to side with USA (President Trump). Given the social and economic problems Trinidad and Tobago faced, PM Kamla had no other choice but to side with USA. As a commentator put it, “It was a cold, calculated play for survival” of the T&T economy. It was a choice of siding with USA or facing economic pressure (opposition to the Dragon gas deal that T&T desperately needed). In addition, criminal gangs from Venezuela were running amok in T&T, threatening the survival of the state. The country needed the Dragon Gas deal with Venezuela; Maduro was playing games over a deal. Venezuela had faced oil and gas sanctions; an exemption to the sanction was needed by T&T to pursue the deal. Collaborating with USA was critical for approval of the gas deal. If T&T had not sided with USA, the Dragon Gas deal would have been dead. T&T is a mini state with limited resources; it must act in its own national interests – team up with USA to face down a threat from drug traffickers and Venezuela and getting American approval for the gas deal to turn around a shrinking economy.
Kamla rightly hitched T&T wagon to USA for energy and security opportunities. She was able to secure bilateral meetings with senior US officials and regional leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean. President Trump is a transactional leader. If you support his mission, you will be rewarded. Kamla was rewarded with the Dragon Gas Deal and more. She met key figures in the American Administration – President Trump who focused on her name distinguishing it from Kamala (Harris) who the President defeated in November 2024 to win the Presidency. She also met former Homeland Secretary (now Americas Shield Envoy) Kristin Noemi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Trade Rep Jamie Greer, among others.
The President committed resources to T&T as he did to other countries that supported him in the war on narco-trafficking. President Trump committed that USA would assist countries to combat drug related violence and to eliminate gangs. PM Kamla should accept American offer and invite American security forces to collaborate with local police and military to tackle persistent violent crime and eliminate drug trafficking and gangs that threaten neighborhoods.
