00:00The controversy over CARICOM's reappointment of General Secretary Dr. Carla Barnett continues to play out further in the public domain.
00:07In the center of it, Trinidad and Tobago, with allegations that it was disinvited to the head's retreat and also
00:13that it was unaware ahead of the event that such a decision was to be taken.
00:17On April 11, CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Sinkets and Nevis Dr. Terence Drew issued a statement outlining the
00:25agenda at the February 2026 3-day 50th conference meeting, which included the heads of government retreat, stating it was
00:33for heads only.
00:35The statement also outlined briefly a thread of communication provided prior to the meeting.
00:40There was a proposal on February 20th to have the Community Council consider several agenda items for final approval ahead
00:47of the conference in the interest of time.
00:49A program of work agendas stated topics to be discussed at the head's retreat, border and security issues, enlargement of
00:56CARICOM, among other items, which invited heads plus one, usually their Foreign Affairs Minister.
01:03The vote of Dr. Barnett was taken under item number 12, financing and governance, where it was stated that other
01:10issues as raised could be included.
01:13This was under heads only.
01:16On the night of February 25th, Sobers asked if he should attend the head's meeting in the absence of Prime
01:22Minister Kamala-Poussad-Bissessa, as relayed to the chairman by Dr. Barnett.
01:26Barnett indicated that other foreign ministers may also attend, as their leaders may have left sin kits.
01:33At 12.37 a.m. on the 26th, Sobers indicated that he gets seasick and was told the chairman would
01:40understand if he was not present.
01:42Allegedly, Sobers never indicated if he would attend or not.
01:46The CARICOM chairman states that after the vote was taken to reappoint Dr. Barnett, the announcement was delayed, so as
01:52to inform the heads who were absent.
01:54Dr. Drew says calls and WhatsApp messages to Poussad-Bissessa went unanswered.
02:00But Prime Minister Kamala-Poussad-Bissessa in response says an important correspondence from the CARICOM secretariat issued at 8.56
02:08a.m. on the day of the retreat was left out, which she calls intentional.
02:12We quote,
02:13Good morning, foreign ministers. Chairman PM Drew has indicated that today will be a heads-only retreat.
02:19Notwithstanding any indication otherwise, he would like it to remain heads-only.
02:23He apologizes for any inconvenience.
02:26Ministers should therefore remain for the community council meeting to complete its work, including those agenda items from the heads
02:33agenda, which community council is to consider and provide recommendations to heads for adoption.
02:39End quote.
02:40While the reappointment was never listed in any of the agenda documents, highly credible sources inform TV6 News that this
02:46is a usual practice.
02:47They say that upon knowing that a term of Dr. Barnett was coming to an end in August, Prime Minister
02:53Poussad-Bissessa or any other CARICOM head could have also initiated that the matter be raised at a retreat.
02:59Furthermore, we are informed that there are options available in CARICOM to facilitate cases where a head is absent.
03:06But the onus is on the respective head to communicate to CARICOM that their delegated minister would be standing in
03:13their place.
03:13Our sources indicate that Haiti is usually represented at the head's retreat by their foreign affairs minister.
03:19In cases where serious decisions have to be made, the absent head can issue a letter to their minister referred
03:25to as a delegation of authority.
03:27This allows the minister to act fully in place of their leader.
03:31Questions remain over what transpired as the CARICOM chairman hopes that issues such as these can be ventilated internally.
03:39He says, quote,
03:41Unfortunate and erroneous statements diminish the progress towards deepening the integration process for the benefit of the people of the
03:48region.
03:49End quote.
03:50Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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