Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is leading Trinidad and Tobago’s delegation to the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom in St Kitts and Nevis from February 24-27. The high-level gathering, chaired by St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, convenes under the theme “Beyond Words: Action Today for a Thriving, Sustainable Caricom.”
The Trinidadian delegation includes Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Nicholas Morris, and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine. Beyond formal proceedings, the delegation plans bilateral engagements with United States representatives and security agencies to strengthen cooperation on economic development, security, trade, and regional challenges.
This diplomatic mission occurs against a backdrop of regional tensions regarding US military operations in Caribbean waters. Since September 2, US anti-narcotics operations have resulted in 148 fatalities and the destruction of 44 vessels, including two Trinidadian nationals—Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo—killed in an October 14 strike off Venezuela.
Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has consistently supported these operations, stating she has “no sympathy for traffickers” and that US forces should “violently kill them all.” This position has placed her at odds with Caricom’s collective stance that the region should remain a “zone of peace.” In October, she described Caricom as an “unreliable” partner following disagreements over US military actions.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a case on behalf of the deceased Trinidadians, alleging the strikes constitute “premeditated and intentional killings” violating domestic and international law. Despite these controversies, Persad-Bissessar has maintained Trinidad and Tobago’s bilateral security partnership with the US, including high-level meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.