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Former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday rejected the claim that his government’s decision to sign SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) with the US in December 2024 laid the foundation for the US military presence in the Southern Caribbean as well as US troops in Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking at a news conference at his Glencoe home yesterday, Rowley said there was absolutely nothing in SOFA that allows Trinidad and Tobago to breach the UN Charter to intervene militarily in any of its neighbours or anywhere in the world.

“Anybody from the Government saying that, it is a lie. There’s nothing in any document that I’m aware of which prevents the sovereign government of Trinidad and Tobago from saying yes or no to any request coming from any country if we believe that it jeopardises our sovereignty or puts our vulnerability to the test,” Rowley said. “If tomorrow there is a confrontation between Venezuela and the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago is seen to be a participant, big or small, it is entirely as a result of decisions taken and actions taken by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago under the UNC, under the leadership of Kamla Persad-Bissessar. And I want to make that abundantly clear.