Former Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Dr Amery Browne has warned that Trinidad and Tobago could face further consequences from the foreign policy decisions of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her administration.
Speaking at a People's National Movement (PNM) press conference on Thursday, November 5, Browne delivered a wide-ranging criticism of the Government's handling of international relations, raising concerns about Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, United States military operations and Trinidad and Tobago's responsibilities within CARICOM.
Browne questioned the administration's public support for US military actions and its position on international conflicts, arguing that decisions taken by the Government could attract further scrutiny.
He referred to reports of civilian deaths, including children, during international military operations and criticised what he described as the Government's unsolicited endorsement of military action.
The former foreign affairs minister also raised concerns about alleged extrajudicial killings and the Government's approach to military tensions involving Venezuela.
Browne suggested that these matters, along with the administration's positions on Cuba and Iran, could become subjects of greater international examination.
He further accused the Prime Minister of approaching regional relations through an ethnic lens, particularly in relation to Venezuela. He argued that such an approach was inappropriate for a country with Trinidad and Tobago's diverse population and longstanding regional relationships.
His criticism comes amid wider debate over Trinidad and Tobago's changing diplomatic positions.
The Government recently voted against a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo on Cuba and abstained from a separate vote concerning the annual report of the International Criminal Court.
Browne has previously criticised both decisions, arguing that they represent departures from positions traditionally supported by Trinidad and Tobago.
During Thursday's press conference, he emphasised that criticism of the Government's international approach was not confined to the PNM.
He identified former United National Congress figures Rodney Charles and Jack Warner among those who, he said, had also raised concerns about the direction of the country's domestic and international affairs.
According to Browne, the warnings should not be dismissed as ordinary political opposition but considered in the context of Trinidad and Tobago's long-term national interests.
He maintained that the country's relationships with its Caribbean neighbours, its international obligations and its treatment of its own diverse population required greater care and responsibility.
Concluding his remarks, Browne warned that further developments could emerge from the administration's decisions.
He pledged that the People's National Movement would continue holding the Government accountable while presenting its own alternative vision for Trinidad and Tobago's future.