00:01We may be unsure if the CARICOM meeting carded for today to discuss Trinidad and Tobago's concerns of the bloc's
00:09procedure in re-electing Dr. Carla Barnett as its Secretary-General actually took place.
00:15But what we can affirm is that the invitation sent to Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa was not accepted.
00:23In response to the invitation sent by CARICOM Chair Dr. Terence Drew on Wednesday, Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean
00:31Sobers responded on Thursday to Dr. Drew saying,
00:34TNT will not attend any meeting of CARICOM until TNT is furnished with the documents detailing exactly what took place
00:44at the meeting in Nevis.
00:46Sobers also led the bloc through Dr. Drew know that Trinidad and Tobago will not recognize Dr. Barnett as Secretary
00:55-General after August when her term expires.
00:59The Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister also led the Chairman Drew know he was misadvised when he was told that
01:05he, Sobers, would get seasick if he traveled to Nevis via boat to attend the retreat of heads.
01:12Sobers, as we mentioned, was responding to a formal letter from Dr. Drew about TNT's concerns on Dr. Barnett's re
01:19-election.
01:20On Wednesday, Dr. Drew said Trinidad and Tobago was fully informed of the agenda and schedule for the 50th CARICOM
01:27conference held in St. Kitts and Nevis.
01:30He noted that all member states, including Trinidad and Tobago, received and acknowledged official correspondence outlining key sessions, including a
01:40retreat for the heads of government.
01:42According to the Chairman, Prime Minister Passat-Bassassar left the meeting early before that retreat took place.
01:49He added that efforts were made to ensure Trinidad and Tobago was represented, including an invitation for the foreign minister
01:57to attend, but that was declined.
01:59Drew wrote, quote, he indicated that he feared he would get seasick, end quote.
02:05Dr. Drew also confirmed that it was during that retreat that the leaders agreed to the reappointment of Dr. Carla
02:11Barnett.
02:12He says attempts were made to inform the prime minister directly of that decision, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
02:19The CARICOM chair is now expressing concern that the matter is being played out publicly rather than through internal diplomatic
02:27channels.
02:27He urged the Prime Minister Passat-Bassassar to attend an emergency meeting of CARICOM had scheduled for today to address
02:35the issue.
02:36TV6 was unable to confirm if that meeting took place, given TNT's absence.
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