By Arnold Gopeesingh San Juan

Copyright trinidadexpress

THE US military presence in the Caribbean continues to be a talking topic with governments and citizens. We are hearing varied opinions on this matter, and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I humbly believe the US presence goes further than dealing with drug cartels—it is US President Donald Trump striking against his enemy, President Nicolas Maduro.

You have to be naive not to see this, knowing the behaviour of Trump. History has shown that for anyone opposing Trump, he will go after them (just take a long look at what has taken place since he won the last election). While it is good that he is waging war against the drug cartels, that is only the method he is using to accomplish his real objectives.

I would like to give a gentle reminder to those responsible not to take their eyes off the internal wars we have Trinidad and Tobago. That is our responsibility, and the US military cannot blast that away; we have to deal with it in the way we see fit, all within the confinements of our laws.

Innocent citizens are still being murdered without mercy. Brutal home invasions still exist; robberies occur at all hours of the day and night; thefts, drugs and gun trades are ever present. This is the war we must fight in our blessed land. Let us put the focus where it ought to be, and let Trump and Maduro fight their personal war.

Our porous borders are not the business of the US but ours. Our Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, said T&T comes first, which I do agree with; but let us not forget what Trump said on the campaign trail and later, “Make America great again”—and, believe me, he will do it at any cost.

Do not think for one moment that the US blasting some boats out of the water in the Caribbean will change overnight (or at all) what has been a problem in T&T for decades.

Crime is the business of everyone.