00:00All 15 CARICOM leaders are expected to attend the four-day event to be held on the outskirts of the
00:06northern town of Groselé.
00:08There had been widespread speculation as to whether or not Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Kamala Poussard-Bissessa, would be
00:16in attendance.
00:17But she has since put such speculation to rest by announcing in Port of Spain that she would be present.
00:24St. Lucia's Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has taken over the chairmanship of CARICOM for the next six months.
00:32He will chair the deliberations and has no doubt as to the outcome he wants.
00:37First of all, Peter, it's really an honour to be the chairman of CARICOM.
00:43My expectations, my expositions are simple.
00:47I really want CARICOM to continue working for the people of the region.
00:51So the people of the region can see the impact of CARICOM.
00:56And how can we do that?
00:58We can do that by impacting on the lives of people where they are affected the most.
01:05At least one of the issues that is expected to cloud the meeting is the reappointment of the Belizean-born
01:13economist, Dr. Carla Barnett,
01:15who was first appointed unanimously on August 15, 2021, as CARICOM Secretary General.
01:23At their last summit in St. Kitts and Nevis in February,
01:26the first woman ever to hold the region's top public servant post was given another five-year term.
01:34But her appointment has been shrouded in controversy,
01:38with Prime Minister Persad Visesa already indicating that she will not be recognised in Barnett when her term ends in
01:45August.
01:46The Trinidad-based regional political analyst Derek Ramsemouj says he's hoping for a level of consensus on the reappointment issue.
01:56One would expect a level of consensus created with respect on a number of matters.
02:04One, the appointment of Carla Barnett as the Secretary General,
02:09whether that's going to meet with the approval of the heads of government,
02:15or whether there is going to be a change of decision influenced by the position of Prime Minister Kamala Persad
02:22Visesa.
02:22Clearly, proper employment processes must be adhered to,
02:29and good governance is required that allow consensus with the appointment of a Secretary General.
02:37But Dominique's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerritt, says he does not anticipate any real issues going forward.
02:45The issue of the Secretary General, I don't expect any real issues.
02:53I mean, the reality is every country has a right to express the view on who should be the Secretary
03:00General.
03:02The Secretary General posts under the current arrangements within CARICOM does not require a unanimous decision.
03:12It is a simple majority because people vote, and we're hoping that this does not cause any distraction.
03:22There will be several reoccurring matters on the agenda for the four-day meeting,
03:27including progress on the CARICOM single market and economy, the CSME,
03:33advancing climate action, strengthening food and nutrition security,
03:38digital transformation, as well as the ongoing situation in Haiti.
03:43Haiti is a CARICOM issue.
03:46It's becoming a global issue.
03:50We understand some progress that's been made.
03:53You know, CARICOM has been deeply involved in Haiti.
03:56We have the EPG, of which the Prime Minister is involved.
04:02So we need now to see if we can take small steps.
04:05You see, we need to have small steps, incremental steps.
04:11Haiti is complex.
04:12So we can have goals that are too much in the future.
04:21It's going to be small, incremental steps,
04:24which will lead, eventually, to Haiti having an elected government by the people of Haiti.
04:31The people of Haiti must be allowed to conduct their own affairs.
04:35Sunday's opening ceremony will be addressed by Prime Minister Peer,
04:39the outgoing CARICOM Chair, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Terence Drew,
04:44the CARICOM Secretary-General,
04:46and the Youth Leader Raheem Augustine Joseph,
04:49a Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar.
04:52Peter Richards reporting for CCN TV6 News from St. Lucia.
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