NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – National Security Minister Wayne Munroe is advising Bahamians to “stay out of go fast boats leaving Venezuela” as the United States continues its military build up as part of its fight against alleged drug traffickers coming out of the South American country.

“I would advise Bahamians to stay out of go fast boats leaving Venezuela. We’re not going to be doing what the Americans are doing, but you would be well to stay out of their way,” Munroe told reporters.

Last Saturday, the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat said that regional leaders had met last week to discuss several issues on the regional agenda, including the security build-up in parts of the Caribbean and its potential impact on member states.

It said that the position at that meeting was not endorsed by the government of the twin-island republic, Trinidad and Tobago.

The meeting follows a series of deadly strikes by the Donald Trump administration targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast, the latest of which reportedly claimed the lives of two Trinidad and Tobago nationals.

“Save in respect of Trinidad and Tobago who reserved its position, Heads agreed on the following: They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict.

“Caricom remains willing to assist towards that objective,” the Caricom statement read.

Munroe told reporters that while the reality is that it would be impossible to push back against the United States, “if they determined to, for instance, deploy in international waters between The Bahamas and the US, what can we do to restrict them in finding what they say is their national interest?.

Munroe said he does not see the government being able to restrict the US “in the steps they see necessary to defend their national interest.

“If they decide to do that, we would have to seek to give our citizens warning to prevent them falling victims to, perhaps, a military strike,” he said, adding “in fact, if they were to choose to sail in your harbour, there’s nothing you could do. It would be a breach of your sovereignty, and you could complain, but you couldn’t stop them.”

Munroe said that individuals believed to be taking part in illegal actions should be brought before the courts.