In a statement issued by T&T's  Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, said the OAS was engaged in a “continued campaign of misinformation,” carried out by its General Secretariat.

The Trinidad government took note of a statement issued by the OAS on December 30 which made reference to a number of Venezuelan nationals who lost their lives when an overloaded boat capsized, but incorrectly stated that their bodies were found “on the maritime border of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.”

The incident occurred in Venezuelan waters off the coast of Güiria.

The T&T Government slammed the OAS for the “distasteful” use of the tragedy of the Venezuelan nationals’ drowning deaths:  “To use the tragic circumstance and, even the death of Venezuelan nationals, in such a manner is distasteful, reprehensible and goes against the purpose of the Organisation and its General Secretariat.”

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has called on the OAS to put a stop to this “campaign”.

The OAS's current course can result in incalculable damage to the integrity of the organisation and the trust reposed in it by its legitimate members,” Trinidad said.

The doomed vessel, named 'Jhonnaly Jose', was said to be on its way to Trinidad and Tobago, and  is reported to have been carrying at least 25 people from Güiria, a port on the north-east coast of Venezuela, although exact passenger numbers remain unclear.

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