T&T: Venezuelans infringing on T&T's territorial integrity

THE Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard will soon acquire two additional patrol boats to complement its fleet which will be used to curtail piracy on the high seas and to prevent illegal fishing in territorial waters. Minister of National Security Martin Joseph made the disclosure in the Senate yesterday in response to a question from Opposition Senator Wade Mark, who wanted to know the steps being taken by Government to curtail the resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Paria and other territorial waters. In 2003, there were three reports of robberies at sea, where crew members on fishing vessels were robbed of their engines, fuel and fish, said Joseph.

So far there have been two incidents of robbery on the high seas for the year. Both incidents occurred in February; one off the Five Islands and the other at the Felicity River. In most of the incidents, the perpetrators were “Spanish-speaking men,” said Joseph.

"Spanish-speaking men" is code for Venezuelans. Unless the "Spanish-speaking men" are Arabs from the Muslim Triangle who have begun infiltrating not just T&T's waters, but T&T itself. If that is the case, then Enyahooma-El, who had attempted to import Mac-10s with silencers, requires closer scrutiny.