Senator
warns Govt: Keep eye on V'zuela
By Anna Ramdass
Trinidad Express
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
09 16 07
An Independent Senator has advised that the Government should strengthen its
external relationships and bring into being a Washington/Port of Spain/Brazil
axis, in case of aggression from Venezuela in the hunt for oil and gas.
"As our oil and gas reserves and the land
diminish, we will have to venture further and further
out to sea in our exclusive economic zone, and
this may possibly incur conflicts with our neighbour
(Venezuela), who is clearly on an expansionist
mode," said Independent Senator Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir
in her budget contribution at the Senate sitting
on Thursday.
"Call it Machiavellian if you wish, I call
it prudence. Once must be aware of the possibilities
and act accordingly to maintain the delicate balance
of power in the geopolitical arena," said
Anmolsingh-Mahabir.
Anmolsingh-Mahabir
said the framework treaty relating to the unitisation
of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs that
extend the delimitation between Trinidad and Tobago
and Venezuela is commendable, as "it is always
wise to keep a cordial relationship with one's
neighbour, especially a powerful one".
"But historically speaking, Trinidad and
Tobago has always faced the possible threats from
the hegemonistic, expansionist, foreign policy
of Venezuela," she said.
She added that this view had also been articulated
in the 1970s by former Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams,
in his book Forged from the Love of Liberty- Selected
Speeches.
"This may help to stem the tide of disruptive
influences in the region and to assist in protecting
its economic and political interest," Anmolsingh-Mahabir
said.
Trinidad
Express
Monday, September 10th 2007
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