Bahamians urged to avoid speed boats leaving Venezuela amid US military action

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – National Security Minister Wayne Munroe is advising Bahamians to “stay out of go-fast boats leaving Venezuela” as the United States continues its military build-up as part of its fight against alleged drug traffickers operating out of the South American country.

“We’re not going to be doing what the Americans are doing, but you would do well to stay out of their way,” Munroe told reporters.

Last Saturday, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that regional leaders met last week to discuss several issues on the regional agenda, including the security build-up in parts of the Caribbean and its potential impact on member states.

It said that the position taken at that meeting was not endorsed by the government of the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The meeting follows a series of deadly strikes by the Donald Trump administration targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast, the latest of which reportedly claimed the lives of two Trinidadians.

“Save in respect of Trinidad and Tobago, which reserved its position, Heads agreed on the following: They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict.

“CARICOM remains willing to assist towards that objective,” the CARICOM statement read.

Munroe told reporters that while the reality is it would be impossible to push back against the United States, “if they determined to, for instance, deploy in international waters between The Bahamas and the U.S., what can we do to restrict them in finding what they say is their national interest?”

Munroe said he does not see the government being able to restrict the U.S. “in the steps they see necessary to defend their national interest.”

“If they decide to do that, we would have to seek to give our citizens a warning to prevent them from falling victim to, perhaps, a military strike,” he said, adding, “In fact, if they were to choose to sail in your harbour, there’s nothing you could do. It would be a breach of your sovereignty, and you could complain, but you couldn’t stop them.”

Munroe said that individuals believed to be taking part in illegal activities should be brought before the courts.

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