A major dispute has emerged within the Caribbean Community, as Trinidad and Tobago takes a firm stance against CARICOM over the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett.
The government of Trinidad and Tobago has refused to participate in regional discussions on the matter and has stated that it will not recognise Barnett’s reappointment beyond the end of her current term in August 2026.
In a letter dated April 9, 2026, addressed to CARICOM Chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew, officials outlined serious concerns about the process used to reappoint Barnett, describing it as “surreptitious, corrupted and flawed.”
The correspondence, signed by Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers on behalf of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, also made clear that Trinidad and Tobago would not attend any emergency meetings until full documentation is provided.
That position was reflected on April 10, 2026, when CARICOM leaders convened a 25th Special Emergency Meeting to address the issue without Trinidad and Tobago in attendance.
According to CARICOM, all member states were properly informed of the February 24–27 summit in Basseterre, where the reappointment was discussed during a leaders-only retreat. Officials say the decision was made in keeping with Article 24 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which allows the Conference of Heads of Government to appoint and reappoint the Secretary-General.
However, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has strongly challenged that account.
She maintains that Trinidad and Tobago was not properly included in the process, arguing that the reappointment was not listed as an agenda item and was handled outside formal procedures. She has pointed to what she describes as documentary evidence, including communications that focused on logistical matters such as attire for the retreat while making no mention of the Secretary-General’s reappointment.
Persad-Bissessar also cited a WhatsApp message sent on February 26, indicating that the retreat was for Heads of Government only, which she argues contradicts CARICOM’s claim that her country could have been represented in her absence.
She has repeatedly called for transparency, demanding key documents including meeting minutes, performance appraisals, and records of the 2021 appointment process.
In response, Prime Minister Drew said efforts were made to contact Persad-Bissessar following the retreat and that her Foreign Minister had been given the option to attend but did not.
The disagreement has since escalated into the public domain, with Trinidad and Tobago warning that the issue could have serious implications for its role and financial commitment within the regional bloc.
Despite the standoff, Trinidad and Tobago says it remains committed to CARICOM, but insists that the matter must be resolved transparently.
