Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has offered his sympathies to the Venezuelan government and people, over the killing of an infant child by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

In a statement late on Sunday, the PM urged migrants to avoid making the dangerous journey across borders.

“I express my deepest sympathy on my own behalf and of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to the unfortunate loss of life of the baby during the security operations. We continue to appeal to our Venezuelan neighbours to not be encouraged to risk their lives and the life of others in illicit and dangerous border crossings.” 

Dr. Rowley has also arranged with Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, for a meeting to be held between Senior TT Coast Guard officers and senior officers of the Guardia Nacionale, in hopes of bringing about better and more effective collaboration against the illicit trades of trafficking in people, guns and drugs.

The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard said on Sunday, that its members acted in self defense when they shot at a vessel transporting migrants, killing an infant child.

In a statement, the TTCG said it was conducting patrols along the South Coast just before midnight on Saturday, when it detected a boat crossing the border from Venezuela. It said despite sounding a horn for the vessel to stop, the operator of the boat attempted to ram into the Coast Guard vessel.

“All available methods were used including the use of the loud hailer, ship’s horn, searchlight and flares, to try to get the suspect vessel to stop, however, the vessel continued to attempt to evade TTS Scarborough. In keeping with standard protocols, warning shots ahead of the vessel were next employed,” the Coast Guard statement said.

The statement said the officers had been unaware, at the time they fired the shots, that there were migrants on board.

The child’s mother- who was holding him at the time of the incident- was also injured.

She remains warded at a local health facility.