Dear Editor,

There is an old African proverb that says, “When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.”

There is Trinidadian proverb that says, “What is joke for schoolchildren is death for crapaud.”

These two proverbs, more or less, put into context the conflict in Venezuela. There are some citizens who think that Trinidad & Tobago’s view on who ought to be the legitimate president of Venezuela is pertinent. The reality is our view does not count and, as far as is possible, Trinidad & Tobago should try not to be the grass that is trampled when there are international conflicts that is outside our sphere of influence.

There are those who think that this 40-by-70 mile rock (Trinidad) with a flag and constitution is a major player in international affairs. It is not.

Perhaps it is pertinent to have a reality check. Trinidad & Tobago, with its dwindling oil and gas reserves, needs energy products from Venezuela for our economic sustenance. Additionally, our country almost totally depends on the United States of America and the rest of the world for food, clothing and shelter. We cannot feed ourselves, we are not economically positioned to take a position that is at variance with the economic policies of America.

In such a scenario, any responsible politician or manager of Trinidad & Tobago ought to know that our policies on international events, like the conflict in Venezuela, ought to be a policy of non-interference. If one is forced to take a side, then common sense will dictate that such decisions will have to be arrived at with those who are responsible for our existence as a nation, the British.

Trinidad & Tobago is a member of Caricom, but also a member of the Commonwealth. When international matters arise that necessitates a position similar to that which the USA is asking nations to take, Trinidad & Tobago has very little choice but to align itself with its international partners: When elephants fight the grass does not have the ability to give advice, no matter how sincere or wise its position may be.

A word to the wise.

God bless our nation.

Steve Alvarez

Leader

Democratic Party of Trinidad & Tobago

bilcoa@hotmail.com