Kamla cautions against U.S. fallout as visas and trade matter

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stark warning about Trinidad and Tobago’s relationship with the United States, urging citizens and political voices to be mindful of the country’s most powerful international partnership.
Speaking at a public engagement, Persad-Bissessar highlighted the sharp contrast between Trinidad and Tobago’s trade relationship with Venezuela and that of the United States. According to her remarks, trade with Venezuela accounts for a negligible 0.0003 percent, while trade with the United States runs into billions of dollars annually.
She revealed that more than 350,000 Trinidadians and Tobagonians currently hold U.S. visas, a figure she said many people underestimate. These visas, she noted, are not used for one-off trips but for repeated travel over many years, reflecting the deep social, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries.
“People like to visit the United States,” she explained, pointing out that Trinidadians travel frequently for business, education, medical care, shopping, and to visit relatives.
Persad-Bissessar questioned what she described as the hypocrisy of publicly criticising a country while simultaneously seeking access to it. She cautioned that reckless rhetoric could have serious consequences, pointing to Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica as examples where strained diplomatic relations reportedly resulted in visa restrictions.
“Once visas are cut, they are cut,” she warned, stressing that such outcomes ultimately harm ordinary citizens rather than political leaders.
Beyond visas, Persad-Bissessar emphasised the broader strategic reality facing Trinidad and Tobago. She argued that only United States currently has the financial resources, institutional capacity, and global reach to provide meaningful security and strategic support if needed.
She also underscored the size of the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora in the United States, stating that over 250,000 Trinidadians live there, many of whom are fully regularised. In addition, she cited approximately 20,000 dual citizens who hold both U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago citizenship.
“These are real numbers,” Persad-Bissessar said, adding that she personally verified the data before sharing it publicly.
Her comments come amid ongoing national debate over foreign policy, border security, and Trinidad and Tobago’s positioning within an increasingly tense geopolitical landscape. The message, she made clear, was not about submission, but about realism.
Understanding where economic strength, mobility opportunities, and security partnerships lie, she argued, is critical to safeguarding the interests of Trinidad and Tobago and its people.

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