A DELEGATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LEAVES TODAY, FOR TALKS IN CARACAS VENEZUELA.

THE DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AND CARICOM AFFAIRS SEAN SOBERS.

PRIME MINISTER KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR IS SAID TO BE, EXTENDING THE OLIVE BRANCH TO VENEZUELA’S ACTING PRESIDENT DELCY RODRIGUEZ.

MRS. RODRIGUEZ HAD DECLARED PRIME MINISTER PERSAD BISSESSAR PERSONA NON GRATA, IN VENEZUELA. BECAUSE OF HER GOVERNMENT’S ACTIVE POSITION ON THE TENSIONS BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND THE UNITED STATES.

MRS. PERSAD BISSESSAR SAYS, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IS SEEKING TO STRENGTHENING ITS LONG-STANDING TIES, AND FRIENDSHIP WITH VENEZUELA THROUGH THIS DELEGATION.

ACCORDING TO THE EXPRESS NEWSPAPER, VENEZUELA AMBASSADOR TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ALVARO ENRIQUE SANCHEZ CORDERO, WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE DELEGATION.

THE DELEGATION IS EXPECTED TO UNDERTAKE A WORKING VISIT AND IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH VENEZUELA MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND FOREIGN TRADE, AND OTHER OFFICIALS.

THE GROUP IS SCHEDULED TO DEPART TRINIDAD ON A CARIBBEAN AIRLINES FLIGHT, FOR CARACAS THIS MORNING AND RETURN THIS EVENING.

THE DELEGATION WILL ALSO TAKE THREE TONNES OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND HUMANITARIAN AID TO VENEZUELA, COLLECTED BY THE VENEZUELAN EMBASSY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

MRS. PERSAD-BISSESSAR TOLD THE EXPRESS YESTERDAY, THAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW SHE HAS FAMILIAL TIES TO VENEZUELA THROUGH HER HUSBAND.

SHE SAID, T&T SHARES A LONG HISTORY WITH VENEZUELA AND STRESSED THAT THE RENEWED RELATIONSHIP IS NOT FOCUSED SOLELY ON ENERGY CO-OPERATION, BUT ALSO ON OTHER AREAS, INCLUDING TRADE AND AGRICULTURE.

PERSAD-BISSESSAR SAID, HER ADMINISTRATION LOOKED FORWARD TO RECONNECTING AND REIGNITING TIES WITH VENEZUELA.