The lives of the five Trinidadians who are currently detained in Venezuela’s Sevin Prison may now be at risk as there are plans to have them relocated to one of Venezuela’s main prisons, which is described as one of the worst in the world. In the light of this new development, their relatives are again making a desperate plea to the T&T Government to urgently intervene and have the nationals returned safely to their respective families.
The five men—Wade Charles, Dominic Pitilal, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley—were arrested on terrorism charges on March 19, 2014, after the Venezuelan intelligence agency raided their hotel rooms. Speaking to the Sunday Guardian, head of the Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front), Umar Abdullah, said he received information on Thursday night from Venezuelan authorities that officials from the Venezuelan government visited the Sevin Prison and announced the relocation of prisoners to a main prison.
“I was told this came about because of the announcement made by the President of the United States, Barack Obama. It is suspected that the US may move in on Venezuela and may attempt to free political prisoners held captive there,” Abdullah said. “The prisoners are now fearful for their lives because if they are moved to the main prison they will be put under a lot of pressure because the prisons are crowded and there are terrible prisoners there. Also, they won’t be able to get their special Halaal food that we are currently providing for them at Sevin. So, what will they eat?
Their families are pleading in desperation now to the T&T Government to move in,” he added. On February 24, 2015, Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro came to T&T for the signing of a new agreement on energy affairs. His arrival was met with protest by Venezuelan nationals residing in T&T who were calling for him to step down from government. Also, protesting were members of the Islamic Front led by Abdullah. Abdullah and four others placarded outside the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s for the release of the five Trinidadians.
While in T&T, Maduro and T&T’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar discussed the situation with Persad-Bissessar making a public announcement that further talks between the governments would resume on the matter. However, that meeting is yet to take place. On March 27, 2014, a delegation of officials, headed by Rear Admiral Richard Kelshall (national security adviser to the Prime Minister of T&T), left Trinidad on a fact-finding mission.
According to Abdullah, during the one-day visit Kelshall made several statements against three of the nationals arrested, in support of his informal statements to the defence attaché of Venezuela in Trinidad a few days previously. On March 9, 2015, according to Reuters, the US declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist Maduro took office in 2013. Maduro said he may travel to Washington to challenge Obama.