Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last night compared Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to her Caricom counterparts, alleging that the Prime Minister had ‘handed over’ local territory amid tensions with the United States.

He accused her of “mortgaging” Trinidad and Tobago’s seas and territory, and further stated that he believed she would fare badly as a result.

Maduro, who has in the past criticised Persad-Bissessar for her welcoming of US forces and lethal boat-strikes that have killed at least 82 thus far, was speaking in a television programme when he was asked about the recently announced US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit ‘s joint exercises with Trinidad and Tobago’s military.