Trinidad and Tobago PM says CARICOM ‘in urgent need of transformation’

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is in “urgent need of some transformation,” while reaffirming her country’s commitment to the 15-member regional integration movement.

Persad-Bissessar made the comments in a statement to Parliament during an official visit by CARICOM Chairman Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, and his delegation, which included CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett.

“We remain highly invested in the region’s success and our commitment to regional growth and development,” Persad-Bissessar told legislators. She said the government shared the sentiments expressed by Drew in his New Year’s message to the Community upon assuming the chairmanship of CARICOM.

Referring to Drew’s assertion that the region’s collective strength outweighs any single challenge, Persad-Bissessar said that while Trinidad and Tobago believes CARICOM requires reform, it remains committed to Caribbean unity.

“We remain committed to Caribbean unity,” she said, prompting desk-thumping approval from government lawmakers. She added that her administration looks forward to engaging the CARICOM chair and his delegation in “productive discussions on issues facing the region” to ensure the organisation’s work remains relevant to Caribbean people. Persad-Bissessar also invited Drew to return to Trinidad and Tobago “soon to enjoy the rest of our Carnival season.”

Speaking later at the Diplomatic Centre, Prime Minister Drew said he is reaching out to all member states to strengthen the regional bloc.

“I am seeking to reach out to all of our members so that we can continue to build CARICOM stronger and more stable and secure, on the principles of respect and that each of us is sovereign within the framework,” Drew said.

Persad-Bissessar described her discussions with the CARICOM delegation as “very encouraging,” adding that she was impressed with Drew’s approach since assuming the chairmanship.

Earlier this week, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said the visit was part of the chair’s focus on face-to-face engagement with regional leaders. It noted that Drew met last week with the new Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday, in Kingstown.

CARICOM leaders are scheduled to meet in St. Kitts and Nevis from February 24 to 27.

In recent months, Persad-Bissessar has been openly critical of the regional body, particularly following Trinidad and Tobago’s support for the United States’ war on drugs in the Caribbean. Last December, she said CARICOM was “not a reliable partner at this time” as she defended the United States’ decision to impose partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

“CARICOM cannot continue to operate in this dysfunctional and self-destructive manner,” she said at the time, citing what she described as poor management, weak accountability, factional divisions, destabilising policies and inappropriate interference in domestic affairs by some member states.

She also argued that the organisation’s support for the Nicolás Maduro administration in Venezuela—accused of human rights abuses and threats against CARICOM members—has further undermined its credibility.

caribbeannationalweekly.com