PM Keith Rowley expresses grief over death of nine-month-old in his mother’s arm

Trinidad and Tobago: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has expressed sympathy after a nine-month-old baby boy was killed by the TT Coast Guard. He also has a conversation with the Vice President of the Government of Venezuela, as the deceased baby belonged to Venezuela.

PM Rowley said, “I just spoke to the Vice President of the Government of Venezuela. I conveyed our deepest sympathy to the family and wider Venezuelan community at this time of grief over the loss of life of the young child, at sea, during security operations involving TT Coast Guard and traffickers transporting illicit entrants”.

“She promised to fast track the presentation of credentials for Ambassador Major General (Ret’d) Edmund Dillon, Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. That will facilitate an early meeting between Senior TT Coast Guard officers and senior officers of the Guardia Nacionale, to bring about better and more effective collaboration against the illicit trades of trafficking in people, guns and drugs etc, which are detrimental to both our nations,” he further mentioned.

He expressed grief on the behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and urged the government of Venezuelan not to put the life of their people and others at risk.

Prime Minister was quoted saying, “I expressed my deepest sympathy on my own behalf and of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to the unfortunate loss of life of the baby during the security operations. We continue to appeal to our Venezuelan neighbours to not be encouraged to risk their lives and the life of others in illicit and dangerous border crossings”.

On Sunday a tragic incident took place in Trinidad and Tobago, a nine-month-old baby boy was killed in the arms of his mother as the TT Coast Guard, accidentally, fired the Venezuelan migrant vessel. While explaining about the tragedy, Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard said that it fired the migrant boat as a reflex to self defence.