NEW YORK,USA — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez have met in New York, with Venezuela confirming that Persad-Bissessar is now persona grata in the country, reversing her previous designation as persona non grata.

The development came during a meeting between the two leaders on September 23 at the Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Venezuela’s National Assembly had declared Persad-Bissessar persona non grata in October 2025 due to her backing of US President Donald Trump and his increasing pressure of the dictatorial regime of Nicolas Maduro.

A special military operation by the Americans result in Maduro and his wife’s capture and subsequent removal from Venezuela to New York where they are facing drug related charges. 

 The joint statement issued after Wednesday’s meeting said the Venezuelan side had indicated that the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister was “indeed Persona Grata in Venezuela”.

The meeting had been under discussion for weeks. Prior to her departure from Trinidad and Tobago for the UN General Assembly, Persad-Bissessar said the two sides were in talks about a possible meeting, although she indicated at the time that nothing was concrete.

The leaders described Wednesday’s meeting as a cordial working session marking the beginning of a “new era” in bilateral relations.

They reaffirmed the historical ties between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago and agreed to pursue a work agenda covering trade, energy, security, disaster risk management, environmental protection, agriculture, tourism, air connectivity and culture.

Rodríguez also expressed Venezuela’s gratitude for the solidarity shown by Trinidad and Tobago following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.

The two leaders further agreed to maintain direct consultations at the highest level, with plans for official visits by Rodríguez to Port of Spain and Persad-Bissessar to Caracas.

Both governments said they would continue working towards stronger relations based on mutual respect, sovereignty, good neighbourliness, dialogue and cooperation.

The meeting follows a September 3 visit to Caracas by Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers, during which the two countries began developing a cooperation agenda focused on areas including trade, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, culture and security.