Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr. Roodal Moonilal has spoken out in defence of his writing to the United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, maintaining that he did so in the country’s best interest. 

In a letter dated April 28th, 2020, Dr. Moonilal wrote to US Ambassador Joseph Mondello, alerting him to what the Opposition sees as the government’s undermining of US sanctions which blocks fuel sale to Venezuela.

This is in regard to a shipment of gas fuel from the State’s Paria Fuel Trading Company, which left Trinidad &Tobago’s shores on April 21st, to go to Aruba. Global reports have suggested that the fuel may have eventually been sent to Venezuela. 

In an audio release on Sunday, the Oropouche East MP stood by his actions, saying “Am I supposed to keep quiet? I want all patriotic citizens to remember that in Germany, there were many politicians and members of the public who who speaking out against what Hitler and the Nazis were doing. Back then,  those that were speaking out were called unpatriotic. Today our government is also doing what is wrong and we will continue to speak out”.

He repeated the UNC’s position that the fuel sale could see the US “taking away Visas and placing sanctions on Trinidad and Tobago. The warning was also made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar on Friday, as she called on the Prime Minister to ‘come clean’ on the sale. 

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley having prior knowledge that the shipment was intended for Venezuela. “I denied any knowledge of Trinidad and Tobago fuel business making any sales to Venezuela. The Minister of Energy also responded saying that we sold fuel to Aruba and cannot be held responsible for the end user of that product. The Chairman of state company Paria also explained how it has transacted business and all of these responses are clear and truthful denials,” he said.

He reduced Opposition’s concerns to “scaremongering” tactics.