Attorney General John Jeremie has announced that the government has been granted an OFAC licence by the US to pursue the Dragon gas deal, but only to begin negotiations with Venezuela.

The Attorney General made the announcement at the Attorney General and Legal Affairs office in Port of Spain.

Although he was reluctant to divulge details, Jeremie said the licence was granted on October 8 as the first phase of a “tiered approach,” which would require the TT government to reach certain “benchmarks” which would give the US certain “benefits” through US companies.