Days after she downplayed the United States military presence in Tobago, later disclosing the installation of what is believed to be a US battle grade air defence radar being installed at the ANR Robinson International Airport, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar alleged that crime in the country is being driven by “sanction busting Venezuelan criminals.”

The Prime Minister took to her official X account this evening calling for answers from the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), while claiming that the new radar system was intended to assist with the detection of Venezuelan crude oil “sanction-busting” activities and traffickers who she says been conducting deliveries of narcotics, firearms, ammunition and migrants from Venezuela.”

The Prime Minister claimed that the country’s high violent crime rates were driven by the activities of this purported group and Venezuelan criminal collaborators.