DESPITE mounting diplomatic tensions between the Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuelan governments over this country's support of US military action against narco-terrorists and traffickers from that South American nation, Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj has described Venezuela as a potential "gold mine" once it can sort out its socio-political and geopolitical issues.

“It is a big, open market where our manufacturers are chomping at the bits to do business in, if and once things could be normalised,” he said. “If things get sorted out there it is a huge market we can capitalise on instantly. We could have trade missions heading there the next day.”

He made this clear while delivering the keynote address at the Institute of Chartered Accountants' (ICATT) annual international finance and accounting conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.