Trinidad and Tobago finds itself at a critical juncture in foreign policy as prominent voices express diverging views on the nation’s regional alliances and international positioning. The escalating discourse centers on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s recent criticism of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), with economist Dr. James questioning whether adequate justification has been provided for these diplomatic maneuvers. ‘I remain unconvinced that the grounds for her position have been sufficiently explained,’ Dr. James noted, suggesting the administration appears to be addressing perceived problems that may not yet exist.
The debate has expanded to include concerns about national sovereignty amidst evolving global dynamics. Dr. James emphasized that despite the nation’s size, it must assert its independence: ‘The fact that I am small doesn’t mean that I am not my own man. I cannot allow another country, simply because it has money or power, to treat me however it likes.’
Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah issued strong cautions against weakening Caricom ties, highlighting the economic necessity of regional trade relationships. ‘We cannot diss Caricom. We cannot seek to break our relationship with Caricom,’ Abdulah stated, pointing to limited access for Trinidadian manufactured goods in United States markets. He further questioned what tangible benefits the nation might gain from what he characterized as a pivot toward Washington, noting insufficient public scrutiny of potential economic or diplomatic returns.
The political discourse intensified following Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s response to criticism from Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, which included distancing Trinidad and Tobago from Caricom’s traditional ‘zone of peace’ position and accusations of the regional bloc aligning with Venezuela’s government.
Adding judicial perspective to the conversation, Justice of Appeal and Presbyterian minister Frankie Seepersad urged consideration of broader regional contexts, particularly Venezuela’s mass migration crisis and territorial claims against Guyana. Speaking after a church service in Marabella, Seepersad warned against revisionist narratives that overlook recent instability: ‘Millions of people do not leave their homes because all is well.’ He called for honest discourse that acknowledges recent history and the plight of displaced populations when evaluating decisions aimed at restoring regional balance.