At the opening ceremony of the 51st Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, outgoing Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Terrence Drew delivered a stark call for renewed cohesion within the Caribbean regional integration movement, framing unity as the bloc’s most valuable strategic asset.
Drew opened his remarks by acknowledging that regional unity had faced unprecedented scrutiny in recent months, after internal matters that are traditionally resolved behind closed doors spilled into public discourse, sparking widespread questions about CARICOM’s long-term cohesion. While he did not explicitly name the specific controversy that triggered the public rift, his comments are widely understood to reference recent public debates led by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar over the reappointment of outgoing CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett.
“When I took on the role of CARICOM Chairman, there were very real concerns about the future of our community,” Drew told assembled regional leaders. “Issues that have always stayed within private discussions among heads of government were increasingly dragged into public debate. Doubts were raised about our ability to stay united. Some even questioned whether CARICOM had reached a defining turning point, one from which it might not be able to recover. These concerns were not unfounded — they were genuine.”
Drew emphasized that before the bloc can tackle shared external challenges, it must first rebuild and strengthen the working relationships between member state leaders. He noted that the public airing of internal disagreements had sparked widespread fears that the regional movement could not weather the latest wave of internal tension.
Over his tenure as chairman, Drew undertook a deliberate confidence-building effort: he traveled to every full member state of CARICOM to meet one-on-one with each head of government, creating space for every leader to voice their concerns openly and laying groundwork to rebuild fractured trust across the bloc.
Looking ahead, Drew laid out a clear path to sustaining cohesion: he urged all heads of government to prioritize participation in closed-door retreats and caucuses, where internal matters can be resolved within the bloc. “These private sessions remain one of CARICOM’s greatest strengths,” he explained. “Away from press cameras and rehearsed official statements, colleagues can speak candidly with one another. That is how trust is deepened, misunderstandings are cleared up, and collective consensus is built.”
Drew stressed that regional unity remains an non-negotiable foundation for the collective security of all Caribbean nations. He closed his remarks with a firm warning to leaders against airing internal CARICOM business through public media headlines, a practice that he argued undermines the regional movement’s global standing, and a renewed plea for all members to commit to resolving differences internally.