Trinidad gov’t urges families to assist in probe of men killed in US strike

The Trinidad and Tobago government on Friday called on relatives of two men allegedly killed in a U.S. military airstrike near Venezuela earlier this week to come forward and assist authorities with the investigation.

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Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, a former senior police officer, cast doubt on the “innocence” of the men, identified as Richie Samaroo and Chad ‘Charpo’ Joseph.

“All I can say is that what the Homeland Ministry is treating with is really newspaper reports, because we would want to get as much information as we can to assist in any way that we can in terms of identifying persons and all of that,” Alexander told I.955FM radio.

He noted irregularities in the reporting and documentation of the vessel involved. “But there are some strange activities that seem to be taking place, because you know, normally when persons travel, the amount of souls on a plane, they are able to be identified, if something is to happen and in terms of a ship, the manifest and all of that and the boats registered to leave from one port to another,” he said.

Alexander questioned media narratives and family statements, citing inconsistencies. “So all we have is family making statements, strange and unusual statements, I must say because I heard the media interviewing the grandmother and she said that the men are all good… Normal thing, we understand that. That is the role and function of a mother… but the media never asked what type of runs he was making, was it on the cricket field…I was confused myself, but as I said before nothing has come to the Ministry of Homeland Security in terms of something happening,” he said.

He urged families to file missing persons reports and provide documentation to authorities. “So whilst we waiting and asking questions about the family members there are a number of things that’s being unearthed. But we would love for the family to come, bring documents and sit with the police and give them a comprehensive report so the police know exactly what to work with. We need something to work with other than what we are hearing in the public domain, because if I mention what we are hearing in the public domain, you will tell me put down this phone and you will move on to your next topic,” Alexander said.

Meanwhile, Gary Aboud, secretary of the NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, confirmed that Samaroo and Joseph were among six people killed in the strike. “We would like to offer our condolences to the families, friends, children, wives of the deceased. Very, very sorry that they were murdered like this. I am very very sorry,” Aboud said.

He warned that local fishers are now reluctant to go out to sea. “People are terrified at the risk of being killed at sea. Personally I am very upset with our national position of bringing American warships and allowing them to bypass the judicial process… I strongly advise fishermen not to go further than a quarter of a mile, half a mile from the shoreline. It is very dangerous to be offshore as you can be killed at any time,” he said.

Alexander also referenced past investigations involving the individuals, noting that “in 2018 persons were detained with narcotics” and that an investigation in east Trinidad involving one of the men “where persons were shot and killed” is ongoing.

The U.S. military recently intensified its presence in the Caribbean, deploying an amphibious squadron, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser. Since then, Washington has carried out five airstrikes targeting vessels allegedly linked to Caracas-backed drug traffickers, resulting in 27 deaths. The Venezuelan government denies involvement and claims the strikes threaten regional peace and security.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar defended the U.S. operations, saying she is “happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission,” adding, “The pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all violently.”