By Caribbean News Global contributor
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago Naparima member of parliament (MP) Rodney Charles, a former ambassador to the United Nations (UN) has condemned foreign and CARICOM affairs minister, Dennis Moses, for his reckless statement that Trinidad and Tobago is not bound by the Rio Treaty and the Resolution which imposed travel restrictions against Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodriguez.
“Nothing is further from the truth,” says Charles, Trinidad and Tobago former ambassador to the United Nations. “In fact, having ratified the Rio Treaty since 1967, we are bound to its obligations unless, according to Article 25, we expressly denounce it in writing. How then could Moses make such a colossally misleading statement? Or has the government secretly denounced the Rio Treaty in writing?”
Through his statement, Moses’ recklessness “has threatened the economic survival and well-being of Trinidad and Tobago and has virtually invited sanctions upon us,” said member of parliament Charles presenting the following:
“Article 61 of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Charter specifies that a “meeting of consultation of the ministers of foreign affairs shall be held in order to consider problems of an urgent nature and of common interest to the American States.”
Former UN ambassador Charles also disclosed that this therefore, “broadened the scope of the Rio Treaty beyond being simply a defense pact.”
He stated: “On September 23, 2019, a meeting of consultation was held in which 16 of the 19 OAS Member States supported a Resolution calling for the placement of sanctions on Venezuelan Officials linked to the Maduro government. Trinidad and Tobago abstained from this vote. However, this Resolution was approved since it received an absolute majority of assenting votes.
“Article 20 of the Rio Treaty states that decisions of the meeting of consultation of ministers of foreign affairs are binding on all states that are signatory to the Rio Treaty. Therefore this includes Trinidad and Tobago.
“Although Article 19 of the OAS Charter states that “No State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other State”, Article 23 of the OAS Charter also states that “Measures adopted for the maintenance of peace and security in accordance with existing treaties do not constitute a violation of the principles set forth in Articles 19 and 21.”
The Naparima member of parliament, Charles informed: “The Resolution under the Rio Treaty concerning the crisis in Venezuela does not violate Article 19 of the OAS Charter and therefore, a State cannot simply ignore the Resolution in this regard. Moses has, therefore, put Trinidad and Tobago at odds with major trading partners based on this significant foreign policy discordance.”
According to MP Charles: “Foreign and CARICOM affairs minister, Moses, claimed that Trinidad and Tobago reserved the right not to be bound by any decision adopted in this resolution since it did not recognise this resolution to be valid. However, there is a procedure that needs to be followed.”
Member of parliament Charles, contends: “ You cannot just decide to not abide by its stipulation by ‘vaps’. You need to denounce the Treaty outright and in writing, added, “Although Dr Keith Rowley and his government recognise Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela, they cannot simply disregard our international allies and obligations because they disagree with the decision.”
He further inquired: Does this People’s National Movement (PNM) administration not understand the implications of being diplomatically isolated from the 16 regional jurisdictions who voted in favour of the sanctions against Venezuelan officials?
The United National Congress (UNC) shadow minister of foreign affairs and former ambassador to the United Nations, Charles concluded:
“Furthermore, is the minister’s, and by extension the government’s, rejection of the Treaty somehow related to the shipment of Trinidad and Tobago – oil which ended up in Venezuela and the controversial meeting of PDVSA officials in Trinidad and Tobago for which a straight story is yet to be discerned?
“It all boils back to the blatant disregard by Dr Rowley and his administration of Trinidad and Tobago obligations as a member of the OAS when they allowed sanctioned Venezuelan persons within our borders. By doing so, they have exposed the entire country to potential repercussions, including sanctions. It is the latest in the saga of their complete incompetence, locally and internationally, and they must be held accountable,” he said.
Why would an Opposition be thrilled to see sanctions placed on the people they wish to govern? An amazing scene as Mr. Biswas would say.