Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • War in the Middle East: Latest developments

    War in the Middle East: Latest developments

    In a series of interconnected developments shaking the Middle East on Monday, multiple key actors have laid out stark new positions that deepen ongoing conflict and complicate diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis.

    First, in Beirut, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivered a televised address urging Lebanese officials to scrap a scheduled Tuesday meeting between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the U.S. set to take place in Washington. The Iran-backed militant group, which has been engaged in open conflict with Israel since March 2, has long rejected direct negotiations with the Israeli state. Qassem called on Lebanon to take a “historic and heroic stance” by canceling the planned talks entirely.

    Meanwhile, global energy markets are bracing for growing strain as the conflict disrupts critical supply chains, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned Monday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an International Monetary Fund gathering in Washington, Birol noted that March energy shipments were largely filled with cargo loaded before the current Middle Eastern crisis erupted. But April will bring a far tighter market, he stressed, explaining that “during the month of April, nothing has been loaded.” Birol added that the severity of the global energy shortage will grow in lockstep with how long the current supply disruption persists.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a series of conflicting and uncorroborated claims along with sharp new threats against Iran amid the escalating standoff. On Truth Social, Trump claimed that 34 commercial vessels have successfully traversed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, calling this the highest number recorded since what he labeled a “foolish closure” of the strait began. The figure could not be independently verified by outlets as of Monday.

    Trump also doubled down on criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who recently called for an immediate end to Middle East hostilities, saying he had “nothing to apologise for” for his earlier remarks. The president argued the Pope had gotten his position wrong, claiming the pontiff opposed Trump’s hardline policy on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and lambasted the U.S-born Pope as “very weak on crime and other things.” The criticism drew a swift rebuke from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who called Trump’s remarks about the head of the Catholic Church “unacceptable.”

    Despite the heightened tensions, Trump claimed Monday that Iranian officials have reached out to the U.S. seeking to negotiate a peace agreement, just days after weekend talks hosted by Pakistan ended without a breakthrough. Speaking to reporters outside the Oval Office, Trump said “I can tell you that we’ve been called by the other side. They’d like to make a deal. Very badly, very badly,” though he declined to name which Iranian officials had initiated contact.

    Alongside announcing a new U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports that took effect Monday, Trump issued a blunt warning that American forces would destroy any Iranian fast attack craft that approached the blockade line. “Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED,” he wrote on Truth Social, claiming that the rest of Iran’s navy had already been “completely obliterated.” Trump added that U.S. forces would use the same airstrike tactics employed against suspected drug trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast to target the Iranian craft.

    Even after the failed Pakistan-hosted talks over the weekend, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed in brief televised remarks to his cabinet that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains in place. “The ceasefire is still holding and, as I speak, full efforts are underway to resolve the outstanding issues,” Sharif said, confirming that diplomatic negotiations are still ongoing to reach a lasting peace deal.

  • PAC summons former UHWI leaders over audit findings

    PAC summons former UHWI leaders over audit findings

    Jamaica’s parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has launched a deeper investigation into operational irregularities at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), moving to summon three key current and former leaders of the institution to answer for red flags raised in a critical Auditor General performance audit.

    The decision to call in the witnesses was formalized at the opening of the PAC’s weekly sitting on Tuesday, as committee members continued their review of the audit, which focused on three high-stakes areas of UHWI operations: procurement practices, institutional governance, and financial management.

    PAC Chairman Julian Robinson told fellow committee members that ongoing inquiry had already made one fact clear: the UHWI’s current sitting management team does not have the ability to provide satisfactory responses to a host of critical questions outlined in the Auditor General’s December 2025 report.

    “From our first meeting two weeks ago, it has been apparent to me that the current management of the university hospital is not positioned to answer many of our questions related to the facility’s day-to-day and strategic operations,” Robinson explained in remarks to the committee. “I am seeking this body’s approval to summon current CEO Fitzgerald Mitchell—who is currently on leave—former CEO Kevin Allen, and ex-board chairman Wayne Chai Chong, so we can get clear answers to the outstanding questions we have about this institution.”

    Mitchell, the UHWI’s sitting chief executive, has already been on approved leave since the public scrutiny of the hospital’s operations began. Allen led the facility’s operations in his tenure as the top executive, while Chai Chong oversaw the UHWI’s board and held ultimate governance and oversight responsibility during his time as chairman.

    The committee unanimously backed Robinson’s proposal, and parliamentary staff have already been instructed to draft and deliver formal summons letters to all three individuals ahead of the next scheduled PAC probe session.

    The damning Auditor General report, which was formally tabled in Jamaica’s parliament in December 2025, outlined a series of severe deficiencies across UHWI’s operational framework. Among the most pressing concerns highlighted in the audit are dysfunctional and high-risk procurement systems, gaping weaknesses in internal financial controls, missing or incomplete documentation for major transactions, and repeated, documented breaches of the government’s established public institutional operating procedures.

  • MLSS seeks to clarify ROOFS disbursement process amid queries

    MLSS seeks to clarify ROOFS disbursement process amid queries

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of public controversy over a misrepresented grant amount at an official ceremony, Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has issued a formal explanation of how funding is allocated under the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS), a major post-hurricane housing recovery initiative.

    The public confusion emerged after photos circulated showing beneficiary Angela Allen holding a ceremonial cheque for JMD $500,000 at a February 25 handover event in Hanover, but Allen ultimately only received a disbursement of $200,000. The discrepancy sparked widespread discussion online and prompted criticism from opposition members of parliament, who have raised accusations of potential unfair targeting of beneficiaries under the programme.

    In a detailed media statement released Tuesday, the ministry pushed back against the criticism and laid out the full context of the Hanover ceremony incident. Officials explained that Allen was not among the pre-selected beneficiaries scheduled to be highlighted during the public event. Before she took the stage, MLSS representatives explicitly notified her that the oversized ceremonial cheque used for photo opportunities would not reflect her actual approved grant amount. Immediately after the ceremony concluded, Allen received an official text notification confirming her $200,000 award, and she relayed receipt of that notification to on-site ministry staff at the time. Ministry representatives reaffirmed to Allen then that the value displayed on the ceremonial cheque did not match her eligibility tier.

    The MLSS emphasized that all actual grant disbursements under the ROOFS programme follow a strict tiered structure, with award amounts determined exclusively by the verified classification of damage to a beneficiary’s home. Damage is categorized into three tiers: minor, major, and severe structural impact, with corresponding grant amounts aligned to each level.

    Official disbursement only moves forward after a formal damage assessment is completed, verified, and approved. Beneficiaries receive formal notification of their approved grant amount through official digital channels, including text messages that include a unique voucher code and a scannable QR code link to access further details.

    Addressing ongoing concerns about the programme’s implementation, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. defended the initiative’s structure, noting that ROOFS integrates innovative digital systems and strengthened accountability mechanisms designed to streamline post-hurricane housing recovery for Jamaican households. To date, the ministry has completed damage assessments for approximately 113,000 households across the island and is continuing to scale up operations to address unmet demand. As of the latest update, the programme has disbursed a total of $9.5 billion in grant funding to all fully verified and approved beneficiaries.

  • Pringle Promises Year-Round Barrel Concessions as Part of Cost-of-Living Plan

    Pringle Promises Year-Round Barrel Concessions as Part of Cost-of-Living Plan

    ST JOHN’S, Antigua — With less than two months to go until Antigua and Barbuda’s April 30 general election, cost-of-living pressures have taken center stage as a key voting issue, prompting the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) to roll out a sweeping package of household affordability measures led by an expansion of existing barrel concessions.

    Speaking to supporters at the party’s official campaign launch on Sunday evening, UPP leader Jamale Pringle laid out the full slate of policy proposals, framing the plan as a direct response to the growing financial strain that working families across the twin-island nation are facing amid soaring prices for basic necessities. Pringle emphasized that the current restricted barrel concession program, which allows reduced duties on goods shipped to residents in barrels, would be broadened to deliver ongoing, meaningful relief to households grappling with steady food price inflation.

    Beyond the expanded barrel concessions, Pringle announced a new targeted Water Tanks and Accessories Relief Program, designed to address longstanding inconsistent water access across the country. Under the proposal, all taxes on critical water storage and delivery equipment—including holding tanks, pressure tanks, and water pumps—would be eliminated entirely. Pringle clarified that the tax removal would act as an interim solution for households until the UPP, if elected, can implement a permanent fix to deliver consistent, daily piped water service to all communities.

    The opposition leader also put forward major changes to vehicle import policy to cut transportation costs for residents, promising to fully remove import duties on personal passenger vehicles. The move would bring down the upfront cost of vehicle ownership, making private transportation far more accessible for working families that rely on cars for daily commutes, school runs, and essential travel.

    Pringle tied all the party’s proposals directly to what he framed as failing cost management under the current sitting administration, arguing that everyday Antiguans and Barbudans have seen unchecked increases in prices and public fees over the current government’s term. He outlined the UPP’s core governing promise as delivering tangible improvements to daily quality of life: accessible food that families can afford, well-maintained safe roads, vehicles that do not force households into debt, reliable running water, and accessible healthcare when people need it.

    For Pringle, the package of relief measures is far more than a campaign platform—it is a binding commitment to the electorate. “This is not a wish. This is a contract with the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” he told supporters.

    As the election campaign intensifies, cost-of-living issues have emerged as the central battleground between the country’s two major political parties, with both the governing party and the UPP working to convince voters that their respective policy agendas offer the most effective path to reducing household financial strain and delivering long-term economic stability.

  • HAPPENING NOW: UPP Leader and Candidates Begin Nomination Process

    HAPPENING NOW: UPP Leader and Candidates Begin Nomination Process

    As election season gains momentum, the United Progressive Party (UPP) has entered a critical new phase this week, with party leader and all endorsed candidates officially launching their nomination process at party headquarters across multiple regional constituencies.

    The nomination period, a mandatory procedural step required by the national electoral commission, marks the formal start of candidates’ qualification for the upcoming general election, scheduled to take place in six weeks. Party officials confirmed that the UPP leader was the first to file their nomination papers early Monday morning, accompanied by senior party members, before proceeding to meet with grassroots supporters outside the commission’s local office.

    Representatives from the electoral commission have stated that all nomination materials submitted so far by UPP candidates appear to meet all regulatory requirements, with preliminary reviews expected to be completed within three business days. The process, which requires candidates to submit valid voter signatures, registration documents, and financial disclosure forms, is a foundational step that all aspiring elected officials must complete to appear on the final ballot.

    In a brief press statement following the submission of his nomination, the UPP leader emphasized that the party’s slate of candidates reflects a broad cross-section of national society, including first-time political candidates, community organizers, and incumbent representatives with proven legislative records. “This nomination process is not just a bureaucratic step—it is a commitment to the voters that we are ready to deliver on the promises we have laid out for economic growth, healthcare reform, and expanded educational opportunity,” the leader told assembled reporters.

    Grassroots supporters gathered outside the nomination venue to cheer on the UPP team, holding campaign signs and chanting party slogans, in a display of early enthusiasm for the party’s election bid. Political analysts note that the early launch of the nomination process gives the UPP a strategic advantage, allowing candidates extra time to campaign in key swing constituencies before early voting begins next month.

    Opposition parties have also begun their own nomination processes this week, with all candidates required to complete their submissions by the end of the two-week nomination window set by the electoral commission. The finalized list of all qualified candidates will be published by the commission one week after the nomination period closes, clearing the way for the official campaign period to begin in full.

  • VAT relief extended for four months

    VAT relief extended for four months

    Facing renewed global economic uncertainty driven by shifting geopolitical tensions, the government of Dominica has approved a four-month extension of value-added tax (VAT) and import duty exemptions on 26 staple consumer goods, pushing the end date of the relief program to July 31, 2026. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during Friday’s plenary sitting of the Sixth Meeting of the Third Session of the Eleventh Parliament, as part of the government’s ongoing response to cost-of-living pressures across the island nation.

    The original VAT exemption scheme for the 26 essential goods – covering core food items, hygiene products, and household necessities – took effect on October 1, 2025, and was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2026. The expanded list of exempt goods, which includes salted herrings, codfish, multiple legume varieties, cereals, canned meats and fish, cornmeal, oats, biscuits, orange juice, tomato ketchup, toothpaste, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and sanitary napkins, was formally affirmed by parliamentary resolution in November 2025.

    When the program was first drafted, government officials designed it as a six-month buffer to offset the impact of elevated imported inflation on Dominican households and residents. While an International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment released in recent months confirmed that regional and domestic inflation has been gradually easing, unforeseen geopolitical developments in the Middle East have triggered a sharp uptick in global crude oil prices, creating new ripple effects that threaten to raise transportation and commodity costs across small import-dependent economies like Dominica.

    Against this evolving backdrop, the Dominican government has opted to reverse its original plan to reinstate VAT on the 26 goods at the end of March. “In this circumstance, government has determined that it is necessary to extend the period of exemptions for another four months, ending on 31st of July 2026, in order to mitigate the impact of rising prices on consumers,” McIntyre told parliament. Alongside the VAT extension, the government has also extended parallel import duty exemptions for the same 26 goods over the identical four-month window, doubling down on efforts to cut overall landed costs for these essential products.

    McIntyre emphasized that the administration remains focused on prioritizing household financial wellbeing amid volatility. “To avoid hardships on our people we find ways other than through taxes to raise revenue and provide relief when required,” he said, adding an appeal to suppliers and retailers: he encouraged all businesses in the supply chain for these goods to fully pass on the cost savings generated by the exemptions to end consumers, rather than retaining the margin as extra profit.

    Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit reinforced the government’s commitment to supporting working and middle-class families in his remarks on the extension. “We reaffirm our commitment to stand with the people, not only in times of stability, but more importantly, in times of uncertainty,” Skerrit said. He added that the current Dominican administration, which he leads, has proven unmatched in its focus on centering public needs: “the history of Dominica will show that no government in Dominica has been more people-centered, more compassionate, more caring and more empathetic, than this government that I have the honour to lead.”

    The extension was formalized through the Value Added Tax (Schedule) (Amendment) Order 2026, which was introduced to parliament on April 10, 2026, and approved via affirmative resolution in line with the provisions of Dominica’s 2017 Value Added Tax Act. The law grants the Finance Minister authority to amend VAT exemption schedules via official gazette order, with any changes required to receive formal parliamentary approval to take effect. Following the vote on the order, parliament was adjourned Sine Die.

  • HAPPENING NOW: ABLP Candidates Begin Nomination Process

    HAPPENING NOW: ABLP Candidates Begin Nomination Process

    The formal candidate nomination process for Antigua and Barbuda’s upcoming general election officially got underway on Monday, with Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin making history as the first official nominee from the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP).

    Benjamin’s early completion of nomination requirements sets the stage for a packed electoral field, with all major political groups moving to finalize their candidate rosters. Alongside the incumbent ABLP, the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), the Barbuda-based Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM), and a number of independent hopefuls are all expected to field candidates across the country’s legislative districts.

    Across all 17 of Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral constituencies, nomination activities are unfolding in parallel. Candidates are presenting their official nomination paperwork at local nomination centers, with each submission overseen by appointed returning officers tasked with verifying eligibility and documentation.

    Thousands of party supporters have gathered at nomination centers across the islands to rally behind their respective candidates as proceedings continue through the day. The entire nomination window is scheduled to close sharply at 6 p.m. local time.

    Following the closure of nominations, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) will begin compiling and validating submissions, with plans to publish a complete official list of all confirmed candidates later this evening. This formal list will lock in the contenders set to compete in the April 30 general election, one of the most highly anticipated political events in the region this year.

    As a key milestone in the national electoral timeline, Nomination Day formally marks the transition to the official campaign period. Political analysts and voters across the country are already framing this election as one of the most competitive in recent decades, with close contests expected in multiple key constituencies.

  • STATEMENT: CARICOM Chair on special emergency C.O.H meeting to address concerns leveraged by T&T about organization’s leadership

    STATEMENT: CARICOM Chair on special emergency C.O.H meeting to address concerns leveraged by T&T about organization’s leadership

    In an extraordinary development for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), regional heads of government convened a special emergency meeting on 10 April 2026 to address long-simmering governance concerns raised by Trinidad and Tobago, centered largely on the planned reappointment of CARICOM’s top Secretary-General. Notably, neither the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago nor any official government representative from the country took part in the closed-door consultations.

    Hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat based in Greater Georgetown, Guyana, the gathering followed a contentious lead-up stemming from disputes that emerged during the bloc’s 50th Regular Conference of Heads of Government, held in St. Kitts and Nevis between 24 and 27 February 2026. In a new official release issued Saturday 11 April, the CARICOM Secretariat has clarified the full sequence of events behind the absence of Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership from the key February 2026 leadership retreat, where the Secretary-General reappointment was first approved.

    According to official correspondence records released by the bloc, all 15 CARICOM member states received full advance notification of the 50th conference’s schedule, draft agenda, and planned proceedings, including the separate closed retreat for heads of government scheduled for 26 February. All member states formally acknowledged receipt of these documents. The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago departed the host island of St. Kitts on the evening of 25 February, the first full day of the conference, ahead of the retreat scheduled for the following day, which required a boat transfer to its remote venue.

    Shortly after the Prime Minister’s departure, at 10:33 PM that same evening, Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister Sean Sobers contacted the incumbent CARICOM Secretary-General via WhatsApp to ask whether he could attend the retreat in the Prime Minister’s absence. He was informed that substitution by a foreign minister was permitted under the bloc’s procedures, as had been done in past cases for other heads who could not attend. However, Sobers noted that he suffered from severe seasickness and was hesitant to make the required boat journey.

    Internal communications shared by the Secretariat show that 22 minutes after the initial call, the Secretary-General relayed this update to the CARICOM Chairman, noting that Trinidad and Tobago would likely have no representation at the retreat. Shortly after midnight on 26 February, the Secretary-General followed up with Sobers to confirm the Chairman would understand if he opted not to attend due to his seasickness. Sobers never sent a subsequent confirmation that he would attend the meeting, leaving Trinidad and Tobago unrepresented at the retreat.

    During the retreat, under the scheduled agenda item covering bloc financing and governance, heads of government debated the reappointment of the Secretary-General in the incumbent’s absence, and approved the reappointment in accordance with the terms of Article 24 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM’s founding legal document. To uphold procedural courtesy, heads agreed to delay any public announcement of the decision to allow time to notify all absent heads of government before the news was made public. While attempts were made to reach the absent Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister via both email and telephone, no contact was successfully made, and the Chairman ultimately connected with the country’s foreign minister to share the outcome.

    Beyond the Secretary-General reappointment, heads of government also took two other key decisions during the February retreat: they agreed to establish a special sub-committee of heads representing Barbados, Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica to conduct a full review of governance and financing frameworks for all CARICOM institutions, and they authorized the release of an official statement on the bloc’s recent meeting with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio under the agenda item covering global geopolitical shifts.

    Following the April 10 emergency meeting, the CARICOM Secretariat has released full supporting documents including the complete timeline of official correspondence and the conference’s detailed work programme for public access via its official website. In the official statement, CARICOM leaders expressed the hope that going forward, all internal disputes within the bloc would be resolved through established internal mechanisms. The release warned that public misinformation and unproductive external statements risk undermining the decades of progress the region has made toward deepening regional integration, a process designed to deliver tangible economic and social benefits to all people across the Caribbean.

  • Public Advised of Increased Military Activity as ABDF Begins ‘Exercise Daybreak’ Training Exercise

    Public Advised of Increased Military Activity as ABDF Begins ‘Exercise Daybreak’ Training Exercise

    In a formal public announcement issued recently, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) has outlined plans for a large-scale, multi-partner military training exercise codenamed “Exercise Daybreak”, scheduled to run from April 13 to 17, 2026. The drill is explicitly framed as a core component of the country’s comprehensive readiness-building efforts ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a high-profile regional and international summit set to be hosted in the nation.

    Unlike routine domestic training maneuvers, Exercise Daybreak brings together a broad coalition of security partners from across the Caribbean and beyond. Alongside the host ABDF and multiple local government agencies from Antigua and Barbados, participating stakeholders include defense forces from neighboring Caribbean nations St. Kitts and Nevis and Barbados, personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces, and operational teams from the Regional Security System (RSS) Headquarters, the Caribbean’s leading integrated security coordination body.

    Over the five-day exercise period, coordinated training activities will be staged at multiple sites spread across both islands of the Antigua and Barbuda archipelago. ABDF officials noted that local residents and visitors should expect a noticeable uptick in uniformed military presence across these areas, with troops running through simulated real-world security scenarios designed to test response capabilities for large-scale international events.

    In an effort to preempt public concern, the ABDF moved quickly to reassure the general public that all heightened activity is part of a pre-planned, fully controlled training program. The force emphasized there is no threat to public safety or national security tied to the exercise, and extended its gratitude to local communities for their expected cooperation and understanding as the drill proceeds.

  • Kamla hits back at Caricom: Fuss over fancy shirt

    Kamla hits back at Caricom: Fuss over fancy shirt

    A deepening dispute over the reappointment of Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett has escalated into a public conflict, with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar leveraging internal regional body correspondence to argue the selection process was conducted in a covert and procedurally flawed manner. The Prime Minister has also issued a clear warning: any attempt to damage the reputation of the country’s Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Sean Sobers, will be met with immediate, forceful pushback from her and her entire administration.

    The public standoff erupted after Persad-Bissessar took to her official social media channels to respond directly to claims made by Caricom Chairman Dr Terrance Drew, opening her rebuttal with a stinging comparison that highlighted what she called misplaced institutional priorities: more official communication had been dedicated to coordinating a ceremonial event shirt than to the high-stakes reappointment of the bloc’s top administrative leader.

    The conflict traces back to a February 26 leadership retreat held in St Kitts and Nevis, where the decision to reappoint Barnett was finalized. Over the course of 39 days leading up to the retreat, from January 19 to February 26, Persad-Bissessar revealed that Caricom had sent eight separate communications to the Trinidad and Tobago government all focused on the ceremonial Caricom shirt, but not a single message mentioning Barnett’s reappointment as an agenda item. “Clearly the shirt was of utmost significance and importance but the reappointment of the GS of Caricom was not,” she noted, arguing that this lopsided communication pattern raises serious red flags about institutional governance and transparency within the regional bloc.

    The most critical contradiction at the heart of the dispute surrounds the attendance of Foreign Minister Sobers. After Drew claimed in an April 8 leaked letter that Sobers had been invited to the retreat but declined to attend due to seasickness, Persad-Bissessar pushed back by publishing an April 9 letter from Sobers to Drew that refuted that account, plus internal Caricom communications that confirm Sobers was effectively disinvited the morning of the retreat.

    On the day of the meeting, a WhatsApp message sent directly to all regional foreign ministers, including Sobers, from the Caricom Secretariat explicitly stated that Chairman Drew had determined the retreat would be “Heads of Government only.” The message, timestamped 8:56 a.m., read: “Good morning Foreign Ministers. Chairman PM Drew has indicated that today will be a Heads only retreat. Notwithstanding any indication otherwise, he would like it to remain Heads only. He apologises for any inconvenience. Ministers should therefore remain for the Community Council Meeting to complete its work, including those agenda items from the Heads agenda which Community Council is to consider and provide recommendations to Heads for adoption.” Persad-Bissessar confirmed this notification was later verified by Caricom Chef de Cabinet Janice Miller, and a separate February 22 email from Miller to member states also explicitly designated the retreat as Heads-only, further undermining Drew’s claims that Sobers was invited and declined.

    After Drew released a public statement including a timeline of events following Persad-Bissessar’s initial social media post, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Caricom chairman’s account intentionally omitted this key WhatsApp correspondence, creating a false narrative about Sobers’ non-attendance. “When will Barnett and Miller address this WhatsApp message which was sent to foreign ministers including Minister Sobers that was verified by our director of Caricom?” she asked. “At best Minister Sobers was disinvited because he had no fancy Caricom shirt, at worst he was disinvited to deliberately facilitate Ms Barnett’s surreptitious reappointment process.”

    Persad-Bissessar has since demanded the release of four critical sets of documents that the Trinidad and Tobago government has repeatedly requested but not received: official meeting minutes from the retreat, a full performance appraisal for Dr Barnett, documentation of the 2021 appointment procedure that Caricom claims the 2026 process mirrored, and all additional records requested in Sobers’ April 9 letter to Drew.

    The Prime Minister warned that the Caricom Secretariat’s continued refusal to release these public records is eroding public and institutional confidence in the entire regional integration project. “Any progress towards deepening the integration process is being diminished by the continued aversion to transparency regarding this surreptitious, corrupted and flawed process used to reappoint GS Barnett,” she said.

    Reaffirming her commitment to defending her cabinet minister, Persad-Bissessar closed her statement by emphasizing that any future attempts to smear Sobers will be met with clear, public pushback. “The deliberate attempts to avoid accountability but instead wilfully and publicly smear my Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers will continue to be met with public responses from myself and my Government,” she said. When asked by local outlet *Trinidad Express* to clarify a passing reference to an unnamed “Charles” in her social media post who could assist in further smearing Sobers, the Prime Minister deferred the question back to Caricom, saying the regional body should explain the reference.