The Ministry of National Security says it has reached out to the United States Embassy in Port of Spain to seek guidance and will work with the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, with respect to the possibility of a future repatriation exercise by the Venezuelan Government.
The Ministry says within the past week the Venezuelan Government made a request of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate their provision of a repatriation flight from Trinidad to Venezuela.
In a media release the Ministry says this request was made via the normal diplomatic channels to the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs.
The Ministry of National Security says it granted preliminary approval for this repatriation exercise as it was seen as a humanitarian effort by the Government of Venezuela.
The Ministry says all arrangements were made by Venezuela.
It says when the details were provided of the aircraft the Venezuelan Government was proposing to use to repatriate approximately one hundred Venezuelan nationals, it was discovered the aircraft was amongst those sanctioned by the United States of America.
The Ministry says unfortunately in those circumstances, the Ministry of National Security could not grant approval for the aircraft to come to Trinidad and Tobago.
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