分类： politics

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago has dramatically intensified her criticism of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), characterizing the regional bloc as an “unreliable partner” and condemning it as a “dysfunctional and self-destructive” organization. This sharp rebuke emerged on Monday following CARICOM’s Bureau of Conference of Heads of Government suggesting diplomatic dialogue with the U.S. government after President Trump’s decision to restrict entry for citizens from Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

The Prime Minister controversially connected this call for discussion regarding altered U.S. access for Caribbean nationals with an implicit alignment to Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuelan government. This latest denunciation significantly amplifies her previous stance of reproaching CARICOM for its insistence on maintaining the Caribbean as a zone of peace. Her accusations were notably more blunt and direct than in prior statements.

In a remarkable declaration, PM Persad-Bissessar asserted that “the organization is deteriorating rapidly due to poor management, lax accountability, factional divisions, destabilising policies, private conflicts between regional leaders and political parties, and the inappropriate meddling in the domestic politics of member states.” This criticism is particularly striking given Trinidad and Tobago’s current role as CARICOM’s lead nation on energy, security, and cricket matters.

The nation’s historical significance to CARICOM adds further weight to these comments. Trinidad and Tobago was among the original signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, effectively establishing the country as the birthplace of the CARICOM concept, and most recently hosted the organization’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2023. This represents a dramatic reversal in position that member states are reportedly struggling to assess and address appropriately.

Initial responses from regional leaders have been notably cool. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne highlighted that Trinidad and Tobago is a major regional trade partner, with estimated earnings exceeding US$1.1 billion from CARICOM trade in 2024 alone, positioning it second only to the United States. PM Browne pointedly noted that “Trinidad and Tobago faces some of the highest levels of organised crime in the Caribbean, and regional cooperation through CARICOM security mechanisms, intelligence sharing, and coordinated law-enforcement initiatives has been an essential pillar of the response.”

Barbados’ Foreign Affairs Minister Kerrie Symmonds has called for CARICOM leaders to convene “behind closed doors” to discuss the current diplomatic tension. Referring to the “uncompromising voice” within CARICOM discussions, Minister Symmonds advocated for dialogue amid regional uncertainty, though it appears unlikely he expects Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister to participate.

This development raises significant questions about regional cooperation dynamics. As the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean is ultimately temporary, analysts suggest that Trinidad and Tobago should not predicate its economic future exclusively on increasingly unpredictable U.S. government relations. The current administration’s approach has demonstrated unreliability to its closest regional trade partners, a factor that will inevitably influence future diplomatic and economic negotiations within the Caribbean community.

Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape has erupted in conflict as Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles launched a scathing critique against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration over sweeping fee increases set to take effect January 1. The controversial measures, published through legal notices on Christmas Day, encompass dramatic escalations in traffic penalties, customs declarations, and civil registry services.

Beckles characterized the government’s approach as a ‘reckless revenue-raising exercise’ designed to compensate for what she described as a ‘gaping revenue shortfall’ resulting from flawed oil price projections in the 2025/26 national budget. ‘The Government misled the nation on oil price projections, inflating expectations to US$70 per barrel when global prices now stand at US$56 per barrel,’ Beckles stated in her December 28 declaration.

The opposition leader particularly targeted the administration’s abandonment of its campaign commitments, noting that Persad-Bissessar had explicitly promised to reduce traffic fines while in opposition during a UNC cottage meeting in April 2024. ‘In 2024, while in Opposition, Kamla Persad-Bissessar promised the people a reduction in traffic fines. Now in government, she has done the exact opposite, betraying that promise and burdening citizens even further,’ Beckles emphasized.

The revised penalty structure demonstrates substantial increases across multiple categories. Traffic fines have predominantly doubled, with offenses such as seatbelt violations, helmet non-compliance, and mobile phone usage while driving now carrying $2,000 penalties instead of $1,000. Most strikingly, driving without valid insurance skyrockets from $1,000 to $10,000—a tenfold increase. Speeding penalties now feature tiered structures reaching up to $6,000 for exceeding limits by more than 31 km/h.

Beyond traffic enforcement, customs declaration fees jump from $40 to $80 per import entry, while container examination fees increase from $375 to $750 and $525 to $1,050 respectively. Civil registry services also face revised pricing, with late birth registration fees increasing to $40-$50 for children between 3-12 months and $100-$150 for registrations beyond one year.

Beckles dismissed the Prime Minister’s public safety justification for the traffic fine increases as ‘flimsy, baseless and misleading,’ arguing that the administration had deliberately abandoned the demerit points system designed to improve driver behavior in favor of purely financial penalties. She maintained that the timing and manner of implementation—during the holiday season and without legislative debate—demonstrated ‘poor governance and a disregard for the people.’

The opposition leader concluded with an urgent appeal for reversal, stating that ordinary families already struggling with economic pressures would bear the brunt of these measures. She demanded transparency regarding the nation’s financial status and called for the Prime Minister to ‘come clean with the nation about the true state of the country’s finances.’