Earlier today, on the instructions of the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government convened a Joint Public and Private Sector Stakeholder Meeting to coordinate a National Humanitarian Relief response for the people of Venezuela in the aftermath of Thursday’s devastating earthquakes.
The Meeting was attended by the Honourable Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and the Honourable Khadijah Ameen, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government and included Senior Representatives of the Ministries of Defence, Health, and Homeland Security (Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management). Executive Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, the American Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, and Sewa International TT also attended the meeting.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, in collaboration with the private sector have agreed to undertake a coordinated relief effort which will encompass the following main elements:
Donations from the Private Sector will be accepted at Warehouse Sheds 1 and 2, Port of Point Lisas, Amazon Drive, Point Lisas Industrial Estate.
The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government will host a national collection drive commencing Monday, 29 June 2026, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, in collaboration with all 14 municipal corporations across Trinidad, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and participating supermarkets.
Monetary contributions from members of the public and corporate Trinidad and Tobago may be made to the Disaster Relief Fund-Venezuela at First Citizens Bank, Account Number 3209042, at any branch or via online transfer.
Given the immediate needs at this time and the current stage of recovery efforts, members of the public and corporate Trinidad and Tobago, making donations of items at the Port of Point Lisas or at any Municipal Corporation Disaster Management Unit and participating supermarkets, are asked to donate the following categories of items only:
Over-the-counter medical supplies;
• Personal hygiene items, including feminine hygiene products;
• Non-perishable food items (including bottled water) with a shelf life of at least three months; and
• Mattresses and cots.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is currently coordinating with domestic stakeholders and the authorities in Venezuela to ensure the safe and early transport and delivery of all relief items.
The national community will continue to be updated on the status of relief efforts for our brothers and sisters in Venezuela.
The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs also takes this opportunity to inform the national community that the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago in Caracas has been in contact with all nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who are temporarily in Venezuela as tourists. All nationals are safe, and arrangements are being actively made to ensure their safe return to Trinidad and Tobago at the earliest.
