PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela on Monday agreed  to keep open diplomatic channels amid a regional tiff over alleged mercenaries that reportedly traveled to Venezuela from Trinidad.

They committed to “to open diplomatic channels” in light of recent events” as both countries “recognised the importance of the longstanding fraternal relationship as neighbouring countries”.

A statement issued by Trinidad’s Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs said that the minister, Sean Sobers, held talks with Venezuela’s ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Álvaro Sánchez Corder, who paid a courtesy call and that “during the meeting, Minister Sobers and Ambassador Sánchez recognised the importance of the longstanding fraternal relationship as neighbouring countries that share strong cultural and historical ties.”

“Both sides also discussed matters of mutual interest and concern, inclusive of recent events with minister Sobers reiterating the Government of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago’s previous request for information from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” the statement said without elaborating.

The tiff between the two countries had sparked concern from neighbours.

READ: St Vincent PM urges Trinidad and Venezuela ‘to act peacefully’

The ministry said that “arising out of the discussions, it was agreed that in the spirit of constructive dialogue, open diplomatic channels would be maintained with a view to ensuring that the exchange of information is fair, transparent and consistent”.

Earlier, the left-leaning Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) called on Port of Spain to appoint a special envoy to deal with the allegations made by Venezuela regarding Trinidad and Tobago being used as a launching pad for those seeking to overthrow the Nicolas Maduro government in Venezuela.

MSJ leader, David Abdulah, speaking at the party’s weekly virtual news conference, said also that Port of Spain should engage in “back room” diplomacy given that the country does not at the moment have any appointed ambassador to the South American country.

“First of all we want to state that the approach by the Trinidad and Tobago government was not a well advised one and as several people have stated what ought to have happened was a quiet back room diplomacy after the first statement by President [Nicholas] Maduro and that simply could have been a reach out through the diplomatic channels to try to ascertain what information, evidence what information and what evidence the Venezuelan authorities infact have,” Abdulah told reporters.