00:00Trinidad and Tobago is formally objecting to the reappointment of Dr. Carla Barnett as Secretary General of CARICOM.
00:08In correspondence to Dr. Terence Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Chairman of the Caribbean Community,
00:14TNT's Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said the matter was never properly placed before heads of government.
00:22According to Sobers, the issue was not included on the official agenda of the 50th CARICOM heads of government meeting
00:29held in St. Kitts and Nevis in February, nor was it discussed during plenary sessions.
00:35He adds, while reports suggest the reappointment was raised during a closed-door retreat, Trinidad and Tobago was not present.
00:43Sobers told Drew, quote,
00:45It is my understanding that the current term of the Secretary General is due to conclude on the 14th of
00:50August, 2026.
00:52However, formal communication on this has not yet been received, end quote.
00:57In CARICOM's statement announcing the reappointment, it said discussions took place during the retreat of the heads of government.
01:04But Sobers said Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas were not allowed to participate in this retreat
01:12as representatives on behalf of their respective heads of government.
01:17Consequently, TNT was not privy to the deliberations on a critical regional decision.
01:23Sobers also points to concerns over transparency, noting there has been no formal communication on the end of Dr. Barnett's
01:31current term.
01:32And citing the revised Treaty of Shagaramus, he stressed that the appointment of a Secretary General
01:38must be decided by the Conference of Heads of Government, based on recommendations from the Community Council.
01:44As a result, he said, quote,
01:46We wish to place on record Trinidad and Tobago's disagreement with the reappointment of Secretary General Barnett.
01:53We believe this was not done in the spirit and letter of Article 24 of the revised Treaty of Shagaramus,
02:01end quote.
02:02Despite the objection, government says it remains committed to strengthening CARICOM,
02:07calling for a secretariat that is more responsive to the needs of the people across the region.
02:13Arvashi Tawari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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