differences peacefully and in line with international law, after both countries made contrasting statements regarding an alleged port to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro government in the South American country.

“All I would like to do is to urge both neighbours to continue to act peacefully in accordance with international law,” Gonsalves, one of the longest serving leaders in CARICOM, told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, warning against inflaming the situation with strong language.

“As far as practicable, we do not incline the situation with any excessive rhetoric. We just take our patience into account. And whatever is the problem, we solve them maturely between two neighbours,” said Gonsalves, a former Pro-Tempore president of the 33-member Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) that includes both Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Last Friday, the Venezuela government expressed “its profound surprise at the irate and unjustified reaction” of the Trinidad and Tobago government in response to what it termed as “a legitimate complaint” by President Maduro about the attempts to overthrow his administration by mercenaries using Trinidad and Tobago. (The Gleaner)