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Last evening, the Assembly of Caribbean People organized a Vigil for Peace at Woodford Square, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. This is of concern to us across the region. This week, we reprint their call: ‘We the People Call for Peace Cause Nobody, Nobody Wins a War’: Fellow Citizens, We have all seen the massive machines of war being assembled in the southern Caribbean. This military deployment by the US started just over two months ago with a number of destroyers with guided missile capabilities, a nuclear submarine, several amphibious landing craft and some 4,000 military personnel. Since then these very substantial military assets have been increased. B52 Bombers and F35 Jet Fighter planes were sent to Puerto Rico. And now, the largest naval warship – an aircraft carrier with close to 100 fighter jets on board – and its accompanying flotilla of several destroyers and possibly a submarine was ordered to the southern Caribbean. There will likely be more than 10,000 military personnel located now in our region. The rhetoric from those on whose authority this deployment has taken place has been abundantly clear. They have sent in covert operatives into Venezuela and have stated that since they have “secured the sea they will now go on land and kill them (alleged narco-traffickers) all”. One senior US lawmaker said on television that the plan is to “kill Maduro” and that he has spoken with the President about this. According to the mainstream press in the US, government officials have confirmed that the objective is “regime change”. Mainstream media have also carried analysis by various experts who all concur that these developments suggest one thing – a military attack against Venezuela. More recently, Colombia is also now being included in this scenario. The government of Venezuela has responded with announcements of its own preparations for war if they are attacked. These range from military exercises to the receipt of 5,000 anti-aircraft missiles obtained from Russia. This may or may not be the tip of their iceberg. Millions of ordinary Venezuelans have signed up to be members of the Militia. The Minister of Defence of Colombia has also instructed his military to prepare for attacks and to strengthen their coastal defenses. There is now a growing concern among citizens of Trinidad and Tobago about these developments. We have all seen on our televisions and on social media what war looks like. There is the loss of human lives including women and children; widespread destruction of homes, other buildings and infrastructure; the termination of public services that provide basic needs such as water, electricity and communications; and tremendous social dislocation and trauma that can take years for people, especially children to overcome. Economic and business activity are disrupted if not halted with a consequent loss of employment and incomes for working people. This is not what we would wish on anyone. This is not what anyone who cares about humanity would wish for any country or its people. This is not about whether we agree with the leaders of a country or its politics or its system of governance. This is about humanity. War is not good. As the late Singing Sandra, one of our icons of calypso told us in song “Nobody wins a war”. We know what happens when war breaks out in one country. People flee the war zone. This will mean a greater number of migrants coming to Trinidad and Tobago. Our local business environment will be affected. Investors will think twice about investing here. Trade can be impacted as shipping and air routes become compromised. Tourism can be down as people decide not to travel for Carnival. Our fisher-folk who have already been forced to fish closer to shore because of the threats of boat strikes will see their livelihoods affected even more. To think that a war that takes place so close to us won’t have consequences for us is wishful thinking. This is why we insist that the Caribbean remain a Zone of Peace. With the very real possibility of a war taking place on our doorstep, more and more citizens have been speaking out. Many are calling for us to do something. They know that silence is not an option. Their common concern is that We, the People, Must Stand Up for Peace! We have therefore organised a Vigil for Peace: Date: Sunday November 9th Time: 5.00pm to 7.00 pm Venue: Woodford Square, Port of Spain. There will be prayers offered by representatives of the many faiths to which we belong. There will be artistes who will uplift us with messages of peace and love for humanity. And there will be some short reflections about the moment in which we are now in and why the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace is so vitally important. This is not about party politics or who is for or against anyone or any country. This is simply a Call for Peace, not War. It is something that each one of us in our heart of hearts should be able to identify with. Some of the Organisations Supporting this Initiative include: Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago The Emancipation Support Committee Fishermen and Friends of the Sea Ifa/Orisa Council of Trinidad and Tobago Movement for Social Justice Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association Trinbago for Palestine Warao Nation of Trinidad and Tobago
