Venezuela Reports Environmental Damage From Oil Spill Originating in Trinidad and Tobago

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said late Saturday that an oil spill originating in Trinidad and Tobago has caused serious environmental damage along the coastlines of the states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro and in the Gulf of Paria. The ministry's letter addressed to the international community stated that initial assessments found severe risks to ecosystems in those areas.

It added that the spill poses a threat to mangroves, wetlands and the environmental balance of the region. Trinidad and Tobago's government disputed the extent of the spill on Sunday. Officials there said only 10 barrels were spilled and that the spill was contained the same day it was detected on May 1.

Venezuela did not specify how much oil was spilled or when it first detected the incident. The government requested information about the incident and the action plan for mitigating and containing the spill. It also demanded reparations measures in accordance with international environmental law.

Trinidad and Tobago's government and the state oil company did not disclose the spill until after Venezuela raised its complaint.

Trinidad and Tobago signed a delimitation treaty in the 1990s that established terms for exploiting hydrocarbon deposits on both sides of their maritime border. The two countries share the Gulf of Paria, an inland sea at Venezuela's westernmost end and south of the island of Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago conducts significant oil and gas exploration activity both on land and in shallow waters. It is one of the Caribbean's largest producers of oil and gas.