According to reliable sources, five prominent regional nationals have applied to fill the vacancy that will be created at year end, when Sir Edwin Carrington demits office after 18 years in office as secretary general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The five are CARICOM’s assistant secretary general for regional trade and economic integration, Irwin La Rocque of Dominica; former CARICOM deputy secretary general, Dr Carla Barnett of Belize; St Vincent and the Grenadines’ ambassador to CARICOM, Elsworth John; Ambassador Edwin Laurent, a former diplomatic representative of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); and Henry MacDonald, Suriname’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).
No Guyanese has applied because the late Forbes Burnham, when he lobbied for the CARICOM headquarters to be located in Guyana, gave the undertaking that no Guyanese would serve as secretary general of the 15-nation Community.
It is understood that no Trinidadian has applied because Carrington is a national of the twin island republic and he served for a very lengthy period and it would therefore be unfair for another Trinidad and Tobago national to hold the high office.
Barbados foreign minister, Maxine McLean, has been appointed chairperson of the search committee, and it is not known when the appointment will be made.
