‘FUELGATE’ PART 2: Kamla: Rowley Must Cooperate with US Investigations

Today, I am compelled to respond to the delusional, misleading and outright deceitful ranting of Rowley in his latest attempts to falsely malign many citizens, myself included, of this land. This after I called on him to tell the truth about the questionable ‘Fuelgate’ fiasco his Government has recklessly plunged our country into.

According to local and international media reports, T&T is being investigated by the United States for violating its sanctions against Venezuela. This concerns the controversial gas fuel shipment from the State’s Paria Fuel Trading Company, which left T&T’s shores on April 21, 2020 for Aruba, and was then possibly sent to Venezuela.

I previously made it clear that any US sanctions would be disastrous for T&T since:

• – The United States remains our most important longstanding global ally
• – Our significantly beneficial, mutual trade relations chiefly sustain our food, energy, tourism, business and national security sectors
• – Our very economic survival therefore predominantly depends on maintaining our good standing with the US

Instead of providing cogent and credible responses to this crucial matter, Rowley reverted to his usual ‘gangster’ modus operandi. He resorted to his infamous bullying, cowardly and frankly laughable ‘raging bull’ persona, employing his tired and useless “blame Kamla” mantra as his only defense.

He then chose to bafflingly accuse certain citizens, myself included, of inviting these potential US sanctions when in fact:

• – T&T’s Opposition Leader and ordinary citizens have absolutely no influence over the operations of the US Government
• – The US’s policy of imposing sanctions against ‘hostile’ nations has existed since 1950 (North Korea), and includes 1958 (Cuba), 1979 (Iran) and many more countries since
• – It imposed sanctions against Venezuela since 2019
• – It is the sole actions of Rowley and his Cabinet, NOT the Opposition Leader or any other citizen, which have placed T&T under the current US investigation/threat of sanctions

Rowley is fully aware of these facts. He is therefore clearly using disinformation and distraction to try to get away with this alleged shady deal. Unfortunately for him, he cannot deceive or bluff his way out of US intelligence and surveillance. His strange, futile attempts to do so therefore makes him look like, at best, an overconfident fool; at worst, a would be dictator in the making.

Notably, the editorial of yesterday’s Guardian newspapers (May 2, 2020), also called on Rowley to explain the Fuelgate fiasco, noting that the US Government, through its POS Embassy and State Department, has stated that:

• – Any country assisting the Maduro regime will face sanctions for being involved in illegitimate transactions.
• – If T&T was found to have assisted Venezuela in getting fuel, it could open the country to such sanctions.
• – Trinidad &Tobago cannot afford to have the US, its largest trading ally, become its biggest enemy, because if this happens, then “crapaud smoke we pipe.”

I patiently await another petulant, misleading and deceitful outburst by Rowley accusing the Guardian of being delusional and inviting sanctions from the US. But he must first ensure that Trinidad &Tobago does not suffer from his very reckless and dangerous actions and therefore publicly declare that:

• – He is in fact FULLY cooperating with US’s investigations into this ‘Fuelgate’ fiasco
• – He will now contact the US Embassy and State Department to give them ALL necessary documentation to prove that Trinidad &Tobago is indeed an innocent party in this matter

Rowley’s ‘defense brief’ should include:

• – A comprehensive explanation as to why the Venezuelan VP was allowed into T&T the day after she, Maduro and 14 Government officials were indicted in the US on narco-terrorism charges
• – Proof of Rowley’s claim that this was in fact a preplanned official visit to discuss Covid-19, including relevant letters of approval, proposed agenda and personnel from both the Trinidad &Tobago and Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministries
• – The order form, request, management vouchers, Board approval/ notes/minutes from Paria Fuel Trading company to show that the fuel shipment in question was made BEFORE the Venezuelan VP’s visit
• – All signed reports, research and other relevant documentation from Paria to prove that the company conducted ALL required due diligence before proceeding with this shipment

Further, because his actions can now seriously compromise all citizens, in the interest of truth, transparency and accountability, Rowley must also lay these documents in the Parliament for public oversight and historic record. Failure to do so will mandate nothing less than his immediate resignation as Prime Minister, for it will be the ultimate testimony of his destructive and disastrous leadership of our beloved nation.