(Trinidad Guardian) Members of the Muslim community as well as T&T-based Venezuelan activists will stage demonstrations at the Diplomatic Centre this morning “welcoming” Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro with lobbies concerning two different matters which they are respectively pressing for.
Maduro was scheduled to arrive in T&T last night for an 11 am meeting today with Government at the Diplomatic Centre. Islamic Front (IF) leader Umar Abdullah says Muslim groups will be lobbying for release of five T&T nationals detained in Venezuela on terrorism charges since 2014.
Attorney for the men’s families, Nafeesa Mohammed appealed to those at today’s TT/Venezuela talks, “If President Maduro wants help from T&T in any way, Venezuela must also help us and release the five brothers detained—this should be a negotiating position,”
And Venezuelan activist Yesenia Gonzales plus Venezuelan Opposition Accion Democratica member Antonio Parrios—who’s sought asylum in T&T with several others —will also be demonstrating, seeking talks with Maduro about their country’s crisis, and to ask for a date by October for a referendum.
However both Muslims and Venezuelans will be vying for Maduro’s attention with JTUM members who will be mounting a show of solidarity for the Venezuelan president near Queen’s Hall. Security will be tight for the meeting which focuses on energy, trade and foreign affairs.
Last week Government said Maduro—whose country is on the verge of economic collapse—requested the meeting. Officials expected it would continue last October’s talks on energy, trade security and foreign affairs.
However Prime Minister Keith Rowley said last Friday, Venezuela’s situation would also be on the discussion table. He said Government recognises the situation is tenuous and in light of Venezuela’s economic and political issues, is monitoring closely, including on possible refugee influx. He said T&T has obligations concerning this under international law.
Rowley said he knew of people “seeking aid and succor” and coming to T&T to buy household items from T&T including LPG gas. He said Government has to consider if this exportation is sustainable. He noted some may call on T&T for aid in the overall matter, but hoped “the situation wouldn’t get that far.” Rowley however stressed T&T is “not an uninterested by-stander” in the Venezuelan matter.
Maduro will be accompanied by ministers Delcy Rodriguez (Foreign Affairs), Eulogio del Pino, (Petroleum/Mining, Miguel Pérez Abad,( Industry and Commerce), Alexander Yánez Deleuze, (Latin America/ Caribbean Affairs) and Venezuelan Ambassdor, Coromoto Godoy Calderon,
There has been speculation Maduro may seek some type of assistance from T&T amid Venezuela’s crisis. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Knowlson Gift in 2013 said late President Hugo Chavez (Maduro’s predecessor) in 2003 when—under political pressure and unrest—had asked T&T to “do anything possible” to relieve Venezuela’s energy crisis. T&T sent 500,000 barrels of oil. Chavez later noted T&T came to his assistance in his “darkest hour.”
Muslim protests
But if Venezuela needs help, some Muslim activists want reciprocal treatment. IF’s Abdullah said he’s called on Muslim activists to come to the area outside the Diplomatic Centre for a prayer vigil, lobbying for the release of Wade Charles, Dominic Jamal Pitilal, Asim Luqman, Andre Bathersby and Lesley Daisley. They’ve been detained in Venezuela since 2014 on terrorism suspicions.
They were held at hotel Sabana Grande along with a 22 member Muslim group which went to seek visas for pilgrimage. That group was later released. The five—from Central Trinidad mosques—have been subject to court hearings.
Abdullah yesterday called out Muslim activists—including “sisters” he said—to demonstrate from 9 am with placards He urged them to stay away from negative or derogatory messages and to focus on the freedom of the detainees. He said if they are moved from the entrance to the Diplomatic Centre, they will go to the adjoining playing field.
Abdullah said he spoke to National Security Minister Edmund Dillon two days ago on the detainees. Abdullah added Dillion said he’s been having talks with his Venezuelan counterpart on the issue. Abdullah said he appealed for “good sense” at today’s meeting and was told Government would see “what it could do.”
Attorney Mohammed—who is a specialist in refugee law—said she’d join the women and children of the detainees’ in today’s demonstration. She said Gloria Charles, one detainee’s mother wants to meet Maduro personally to appeal for her son’s release.
