Amid escalating regional tensions following critical remarks about CARICOM’s functionality, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Works Jearlean John has delivered reassurances to manufacturers and exporters regarding the nation’s enduring trade relationships within the Caribbean Community. The minister’s comments come directly after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar characterized the regional body as ‘dysfunctional,’ sparking strong reactions from fellow CARICOM leaders including Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Addressing reporters during the inauguration of the St Mary’s Police Station, Minister John provided measured responses to concerns about potential economic repercussions for local businesses in the coming year. She characterized the government’s approach as ‘firm, purposeful, and intentional’ while explicitly denying any recklessness in their diplomatic communications.
The minister framed recent governmental statements as necessary reflections of realities requiring open discussion rather than expressions of hostility toward CARICOM partners. ‘These are things that have to be said by the government of Trinidad and Tobago. This is what people know, so they have to be said,’ John explained, while simultaneously emphasizing the nation’s fundamental commitment to regional unity.
John pointed to Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s personal history within the Caribbean region as evidence of Trinidad and Tobago’s genuine connections to CARICOM, noting her educational background in Barbados and professional experience in Jamaica. ‘She’s a Caribbean woman, and that’s why she’s in this role,’ the minister stated, framing the Prime Minister’s perspective as inherently regional rather than narrowly nationalistic.
Responding specifically to observations that Trinidad and Tobago benefits substantially from CARICOM trade arrangements, John acknowledged the nation’s strong export performance but reframed this success as a matter of competitive advantage rather than structural imbalance. She highlighted the quality and pricing of Trinidadian products as key factors driving regional demand, suggesting market dynamics rather than preferential treatment explain trade patterns.
The minister concluded with direct reassurances to business stakeholders concerned about market stability, expressing confidence that historical, familial, and qualitative factors would continue to sustain trade relationships. ‘We are very sure that, based on familial and historical ties, and the quality of what we do, we will continue to score big with CARICOM business,’ John affirmed, while adding a final message of solidarity: ‘I want to tell CARICOM—we love them. Of course, we are part of that network; we are from here.’