A Crisis of Truth and Sovereignty: PM Kamla
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s admission that she misled the nation about the installation of a U.S.-operated radar system in Tobago marks a serious breach of public trust. But beyond the question of deception lies a greater concern: what exactly is this system capable of, and for whose benefit does it exist?
Initially presented as a benign part of a “drug interdiction exercise,” reports now suggest that the radar equipment stationed at Crown Point may possess far more advanced capabilities. If its purpose extends beyond the detection of illicit cargo moving through Caribbean waters, potentially including the monitoring of military movements in Venezuela, then the implications reach far deeper than domestic crime prevention.
Is the system integrated into U.S. Southern Command networks? Could it assist in operations that gather intelligence or, worse, aid in the coordination of military action within the region? And what assurances, if any, does Trinidad and Tobago have that its sovereignty is being respected amid this growing military presence?
Is it plausible deniability or calculated complicity?
The Prime Minister’s initial misrepresentation followed by partial correction suggests an effort at maintaining plausible deniability, a political tactic allowing one to deny responsibility by ensuring there is no direct evidence of involvement. This is not merely a matter of semantics; it raises questions about the transparency and independence of Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy, particularly when U.S. forces operate within our territory with minimal local oversight.
The discovery of military-style equipment at Arthur N. R. Robinson International Airport has only increased skepticism. The presence of foreign military personnel, ostensibly aiding in counter-narcotics operations, has unsettled Tobagonians already unnerved by the quiet militarization of their island.
Chief Secretary Farley Chavez Augustine’s failure to promptly return the Prime Minister’s call during the unfolding crisis might seem trivial, but it underscores a broader breakdown in communication and trust at the highest levels of governance. Such lapses carry real consequences when regional stability is in question.
Silence That Speaks Volumes
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s silence in the face of escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions is increasingly indefensible. At a time when over 15,000 American troops and a fleet of warships, led by one of the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carriers, are reportedly positioned within striking distance of Venezuelan territory, the prime minister’s refusal to offer direct and comprehensive explanations to her citizens signals either negligence or subservience.
Trinidad and Tobago is only seven miles away from Venezuela's coastline. Any escalation could have immediate consequences for its national security, trade, and humanitarian stability. Yet the government’s muted response suggests a troubling abdication of duty.
A Region on the Brink
Military analysts have warned that while a full-scale invasion of Venezuela remains uncertain, the U.S. is evidently prepared for limited military action. Recent exercises in Puerto Rico, coupled with the movement of American ships and troops through Caribbean waters, including visits to our T&T ports, suggest that contingency plans are well advanced.
Whether Nicolás Maduro’s government can endure sustained airstrikes is doubtful. In such a scenario, the geopolitical realignments would be swift and unforgiving, with Guyana, for one, unlikely to express sympathy for a fallen regime amid its own territorial disputes with Caracas.
In this climate of deception, deniability, and danger, one truth stands firm: Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens deserve clarity from their leaders. The Prime Minister’s handling of the radar affair reflects not just a lapse in honesty but a deeper crisis in governance, where the line between national interest and external influence grows disturbingly blurred. We have seen such over the past decade by the previous government.
If the government continues to evade open disclosure, the question will no longer be whether Mrs. Persad-Bissessar lied, but what other truths remain hidden in the shadow of foreign power.
Sarge
