Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week had indicated that the OFAC licence was expected soon. She reminded the media that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had approved the licence, though no specific time frame for its issuance had been given.

“This is one step in a two-step process,” the Prime Minister said. “The second step would be our licence with Venezuela. We had a 30-year licence from Venezuela, but given recent developments, further negotiations are required. Shell is involved in that project.”