The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) faces significant internal discord following the confirmation of Dr. Carla Barnett for a second term as Secretary-General. The decision, ratified during the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government chaired by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, has prompted a vehement response from Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has declared strong opposition to Barnett’s reappointment, scheduled to commence in August 2026. In a striking rebuke of the regional organization, Persad-Bissessar characterized CARICOM as fundamentally inefficient, asserting that the bloc ‘has been failing for 52 years’ without substantive structural reforms.
The Trinidadian leader issued a direct financial ultimatum, stating her nation would not maintain its current funding levels. According to data provided to the Daily Express, Trinidad and Tobago contributes approximately 22% of CARICOM’s operational budget, translating to an estimated annual investment between US$4 million and US$5 million as one of the organization’s principal financial backers.
This development signals deepening fractures within the Caribbean political alliance, with Trinidad and Tobago’s threatened withdrawal of financial support potentially jeopardizing CARICOM’s operational stability and regional cooperation initiatives.