Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander has expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes on Wednesday that have so far left more than 900 people dead and thousands more injured or missing.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing the 16th Meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Council of Ministers in Port of Spain on Friday, during which he assumed the Chairmanship of the Council.
“First of all, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, we send our prayers to the people of Venezuela at this time. What is strange enough at the beginning of me sitting on the chair. But again, I always ask God not for lighter burdens but for broader shoulders to carry them.”
Minister Alexander said he is preparing to jump into action based on whatever request for assistance is received.
“As we speak, there is a meeting taking place with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, so then after that we will be able to know what direction we’re taking. The most important thing is sometimes a country, it’s what they request that you can offer. That’s important. So we wait to see what is the request, if any at all, and then we will move forward from there.”
Minister Alexander noted that CDEMA’s work is very important for the region.
“When the situation existed in Jamaica, we were there communicating, we were coordinating and all of this. So it’s about providing resources. It’s about providing manpower in different expertise, and so this is very important. Now, right next door, you see what happened next door. We can’t wait until something happens then to start to get to prepare. Start preparing ourselves, or we’ll fail.”
Minister Alexander noted that this was the first time in its 35-year history that the Meeting of the Council of Ministers was being held in Trinidad and Tobago.