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Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge. - File photoDEFENCE MINISTER Wayne Sturge claims this country is not on high alert in relation to any military operation or hostilities with neighbouring Venezuela.
“There is no heightened alert with respect to any military operation or any hostilities next door. Hope this can bring an end to the unnecessary panic,” he told Newsday via WhatsApp on November 1.
Sturge’s statement came a day after a mandatory call-out of all active duty military personnel and a directive from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration and Operational Support restricting leave for all police officers.
Senior military sources also confirmed instructions were given on October 31 for all active soldiers, sailors and other TTDF officers to report for duty immediately at their respective stations to be briefed by their commanders.
It came amid international media reports, which suggested that the United States was preparing to strike land targets in Venezuela. US President Donald Trump has denied this.
An Al Jazeera article on November 1 reported Trump as saying he is not considering strikes within Venezuela, “appearing to contradict his own comments earlier this month, amid a major US military build-up in the region.”
The article continued, “The US has now deployed fighter jets, warships and thousands of troops to the Caribbean, with the world’s largest warship, aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, on its way towards the Venezuelan coast.”
It said when asked by reporters on board Air Force One on October 31 if media reports that he was considering strikes within Venezuela were true, Trump answered: “No.”
The article said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered the same message as he responded to an article in the Miami Herald that said Washington’s forces were poised to hit Venezuela.
It said Trump’s brief response on October 31 appeared to contrast with remarks he has made about Venezuela on at least two occasions in October.
The article reported Trump as saying last week he would not “necessarily ask for a declaration of war” to proceed, adding, “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? We’re going to kill them.”
Meanwhile, there were reports of panic-buying at several groceries across TT.
A teacher from Rio Claro told Newsday she went to do her month-end shopping on October 31 and was shocked to see unusually long lines at the grocery.
“People bought out all of the water and there were only a few sacks of flour remaining when I got there a little before 4pm on Friday (October 31). Everybody’s trolley was filled to capacity and I didn’t get home until around 7 o’clock,” she said.
She believes something is amiss.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it but I think something is happening and many people feel the same way. The Government probably does not want to alarm the citizens.”
Chief of Defence Staff Commodore Don Polo could not be reached for comment.
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