Rotterdam:
The murder of Trinidadian, Venezuelan, and other Caribbean nationals by the American government under the Trump administration is unprecedented in modern times and completely illegal, as per Western international law. Placing the entire Trump Administration in the criminal bracket. Calling Trump a war criminal is an oxymoron. Who is America at war with in the Caribbean? Which Caribbean country is at war with America? Is Venezuela at war with America? Is Cuba at war with America? The boats that Trump has ordered destroyed in Caribbean waters are fishing vessels. All illicit narcotics shipments to America are sent by submarine vessels and through shipping ports, or go fasts. Not fishing boats, which cannot safely reach the US.
The US government, which touts itself as a paradigm of democracy and a protector of democratic freedoms, have murdered defenceless fishermen classified as terrorists. The insanity of present American geo-politics vis-à-vis the Caribbean is mind-boggling to say the least. Presenting no evidence, the US government is conducting an insidious pogrom in our region, in direct contravention of international law. The ramifications of the actions of the US government under Trump will have far-reaching, dire consequences for decades to come. For fishermen in many Caribbean islands, their industry has been devastated their ability to feed themselves and their families, all but taken away. Fisherfolk are forced to remain on land since no one knows when they will be targeted by the US government if they dare venture out to sea to fish.
Regional uncertainty:
Many Caribbean governments are in a state of uncertainty due to the mercurial nature of the present American foreign policy, which has negatively impacted the region’s economy, which is heavily dependent on its tourism sector. Climate change, illicit narcotics trafficking and the modern gangs spawned in the Caribbean, government corruption and recently terrorism.
Dire regional reality:
The phenomenon of many nationals of Trinidad and Tobago making Hijra to Syria and Iraq to fight on behalf of ISIS/ISIL is a reality threatening peace and security in the Caribbean. With the addition of the insane and criminal policies of Trump, the Caribbean is faced with a dire reality: which leaders will stand forth to guide the region beyond these troublesome times, certainly not the present crop of useful idiots. The NGO’s effective thought leaders and the many innovative leaders on the ground in the region are needed more than ever before in the Caribbean if any meaningful and effective changes are going to be brought to the fore. More to come on the serious, fast changing geo-political reality in the Caribbean.
