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STUART YOUNG, former prime minister and former minister of energy and national security, sent a message to the United States – "hands off Venezuela" – via a text to Newsday on August 21.

The message came amid the ongoing build-up of a powerful US military naval fleet off the coast of Venezuela, purportedly to curb narcotics trafficking cartels.

"The recent developments being reported by international media should be of concern to all citizens and I dare say to the region," Young said.