A diplomatic conflict between Trinidad and Tobago and its Caribbean partners reached a boiling point Friday when Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for the departure of the Caribbean Community’s top official when her term expires in August.
The dispute within CARICOM, a trade organization representing 15 Caribbean nations, intensified in recent months following disagreements about American military operations in the South Caribbean and a significant U.S. military presence deployed near Venezuela to apprehend former President Nicolás Maduro.
While other Caribbean leaders advocated for maintaining the region as a peaceful zone, Persad-Bissessar rejected what she termed efforts at creating a false sense of peace. Instead, she backed American military operations and the Trump administration’s broader efforts to combat international drug trafficking and organized crime.
The Trinidad leader has now set her sights on CARICOM’s leadership structure, calling for Secretary-General Carla Barnett to leave office when her five-year appointment ends in late August.
Following her electoral victory a year ago, Persad-Bissessar has consistently advocated for Barnett’s departure, emphasizing that Trinidad contributes approximately 22% of the organization’s yearly funding, totaling about $20 million.
The prime minister has voiced ongoing frustration with how the regional bloc operates, questioning why Caribbean nations sided with Venezuela and Maduro instead of backing the United States.
“Caricom has chosen to support the Maduro narco-government through the fake zone of peace narrative,” she stated in late 2025 while the U.S. prepared operations against Maduro and regional governments criticized alleged illegal maritime attacks.
Her sustained criticism of the organization and its leadership prompted Friday’s urgent session to address Barnett’s potential reappointment.
