Bahamas minister urges citizens to avoid Venezuelan go-fast boats

Bahamas National Security Minister Wayne Munroe is urging citizens to “stay out of go-fast boats leaving Venezuela” as the United States continues its military build-up targeting suspected drug traffickers operating out of the South American country.

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“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.

The warning comes after a recent meeting of CARICOM heads in Guyana, where regional leaders discussed security concerns in parts of the Caribbean and their potential impact on member states. The CARICOM Secretariat noted that Trinidad and Tobago did not endorse the position taken during the meeting.

The advisory follows a series of deadly U.S. strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela’s coast, including one that 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 Secretariat said in a statement.

Munroe acknowledged that The Bahamas would be unable to challenge the U.S. militarily. “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?” he said, adding, “I do not see the government being able to restrict the U.S. in the steps they see necessary to defend their national interest.”

He emphasized that Bahamians should exercise caution to avoid falling victim to military action. “If they decide to do that, we would have to seek to give our citizens a warning to prevent them from falling victim, perhaps, to a military strike,” Munroe said.

The minister also noted that even if U.S. vessels entered Bahamian harbors, there would be little the government could do beyond issuing a complaint.

Munroe concluded that individuals suspected of illegal activity should be brought before the courts.