Recent comments by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago regarding CARICOM and the position taken by Antigua and Barbuda merit a measured response grounded in facts, respect, and the long history of Caribbean cooperation.
Antigua and Barbuda has never questioned the sovereign right of any CARICOM member to conduct its bilateral relations as it sees fit. Equally, no member should question the legitimacy of another CARICOM state engaging responsibly, transparently, and respectfully with international partners, including the United States, on matters that directly affect its citizens.
Assertions that CARICOM is an unreliable partner to Trinidad and Tobago are difficult to reconcile with the economic record.
In 2024 alone, Trinidad and Tobago earned more than US $1.1 billion in foreign exchange from trade with CARICOM, comprising approximately US $784.7 million in domestic exports and US $501.3 million in re-exports to CARICOM states.
CARICOM was Trinidad and Tobago’s second-largest export market, exceeded only by the United States.
That trade has not been balanced. Trinidad and Tobago recorded the largest merchandise trade surplus within CARICOM, and it remains the only member state to have maintained a net positive trade balance with the Community consistently since the inception of CARICOM in 1973.
This outcome has been facilitated in part by the Common External Tariff, under which CARICOM states—including Antigua and Barbuda—apply protective tariffs on extra-regional imports to support Trinidad and Tobago’s manufacturing sector.
In 2024, CARICOM countries collectively forwent approximately US $142.7 million in customs revenue as a result of sourcing goods from Trinidad and Tobago under CET protection—an economic sacrifice borne by Caribbean consumers in the spirit of regional solidarity.
CARICOM’s reliability has extended well beyond trade. 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. Antigua and Barbuda, like other member states, has consistently supported that collective security effort.
The Caribbean Community is a partnership rooted in shared history, shared bloodlines, shared struggle for independence, and a shared determination that small states are stronger when they act together.
Finally, Antigua and Barbuda categorically rejects the unsubstantiated assertion that its leaders have “bad-mouthed” the United States. No evidence has been offered because none exists.
On the contrary, Antigua and Barbuda maintains a record of close collaboration with the United States, including constructive engagement on security matters, immigration, and consistent cooperation in multilateral fora such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States.
Respectful dialogue with international partners is not subservience; nor is regional consultation disloyalty. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to engage the United States responsibly and transparently in full cooperation, while remaining fully committed to CARICOM and to the dignity, sovereignty, and mutual respect that define Caribbean integration.
That balanced approach has served our region well for decades. It should not now be diminished by rhetoric that divides where facts demonstrate the value of interdependence.
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Uncle Gassy let US have base here so they can bomb thr crap out of Maduro and jave regime change…. Let’s get down with Trumpski….
Well well. I don’t agree with you on much, but that was a well written speech.
@lol.
Whatever GB.
Lol..yes it’s whatever!
This is just more “Monday morning quarterbacking” that’s all this is. You and your so-called embassador should have seen this coming and avoided it, but instead, you are hear trying to rip everyone that speaks the truth about this matter.
Learn to listen you pigheaded joker. They say you are off island (again) but if you spend some real time in your island listening to your people’s advice, both those that voted for you or those who didn’t, we wouldn’t have been where we are today.
Antigua is way too small for this type of devisive politics, and though I believe in the small man as much as any larger than life people, your actions have also isolated the US from us.
All this big mouth talk you always have on your radio program is just too loud, you need to tone it down and work together with the opposition, even if you don’t like many of their rhetoric against you. You are the PM for everyone in Antigua, start acting like it.
Time to start putting your interest back in the people of Antigua and stop all this chat chat chat. At least the PM of Trinidad was looking out for her people, but you, you drop the ball,you and your so-called embassador and right along with your so-called tourism minister.
So leave the woman alone and focus on your people for once..
What about the cars and the 15 million that was stolen from treasury. I would like you to investigate that matter … I can’t get blinded by your continues smokescreens.. yes you have a point but .. you cannot through stones living in a glass house ..
I am with my PM on this issue 100%.
Aye Sah! The pot a boil in the region. This hostility and war of words will affect the long outstanding talks between the two leaders to address and resolve the Clico-Baico insurance settlement issue. By the look of things, that might be dead.
What the honorable PM of Trinidad and Tobago BUN he! Lol why else this elaborate response of fluff🤣🤣🤣 Gaston, ih bun you eh?
Gassy Dred, the only other PM in the region that can challenge you is Aunty Kami. Wah she say bun you eh?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
So selfish when will Haiti get visa free access to all CARICOM countries?
Oh so Gaston see kamla is unpopular and negative in the Caribbean community so he want to go flex off on kamla trying to sound like an angel, but let me tell.you something here, Gaston is ten times more repugnant and downright cynical that kamla, Gaston search out people health record and bank account to curse who ever in Antigua that oppose him, he use the FSRC to get financial information on his opponents and the health council to get their medical records.
I don’t think kamla will stoop that low even though.i don’t like her for her indo-racism against the black Africans of Trinidad and the Caribbean.
There is no way Gaston can extricate himself from causing Antigua to lose visa free travel to Canada and now america curtailing visa access to Antigua because a this passport sale and give away for votes, do you know how Antiguans suffer in the USA because their accent sound close to Jamaican? Both the ALP and UPP seem to think when they win the elections it is to reward the foreigners like Jamaican and Guyanese and Spanish people with passport beside the white mafias that they are selling it to to fatten their bank account and rain in power.
Look out somebody may launch a nationalist party and win the election because Antiguans want a party that caters for them and believe in their ethos and country. It’s time they stop disrespecting Antigua and Barbuda flag and patrimony.
Oh so Gaston see kamla is unpopular and negative in the Caribbean community so he want to go flex off on kamla trying to sound like an angel, but let me tell.you something here, Gaston is ten times more repugnant and downright cynical that kamla, Gaston search out people health record and bank account to curse who ever in Antigua that oppose him, he use the FSRC to get financial information on his opponents and the health council to get their medical records.
I don’t think kamla will stoop that low even though i don’t like her for her indo-racism against the black Africans of Trinidad and the Caribbean.
There is no way Gaston can extricate himself from causing Antigua to lose visa free travel to Canada and now america curtailing visa access to Antigua because a this passport sale and give away for votes, do you know how Antiguans suffer in the USA because their accent sound close to Jamaican? Both the ALP and UPP seem to think when they win the elections it is to reward the foreigners like Jamaican and Guyanese and Spanish people with passport beside the white mafias that ALP are selling passports to to fatten their bank account and remain in power.
Look out somebody may launch a nationalist party and win the election because Antiguans want a party that caters for them and believe in their ethos and country. It’s time they stop disrespecting Antigua and Barbuda flag and patrimony.
I don’t think he even believes what he was given to read. His back, front, head and feet are all against the wall so he will pass out anything that Ronald Singh forces down his throat. Is he still contemplating the snap elections?
America have something call freedom of speech. So wa Antigua can’t talk,American can’t even shot up their own people when it comes to freedom of speech. We not bowing down .why not put the problem on most of you come to America to have babies and when you finish you go back to Antigua, and leave a medical bill back here .That’s why when you applied for a visa you all get turn down for non payment of medical bill. Are you know who are you be,Honorable Gaston Brown and the ABLP stay strong.
💯 With the Priminister on this one.
I was wondering when he would reply to that shriveled grape
PM Browne backed up his position with facts and figures. That’s how regional discussions should be handled.
Statistics aside, CARICOM still needs serious reform to feel relevant to ordinary people.
Not a personal attack, just a reminder: unity matters more than ego
This situation just ain’t getting better. Is one island against the other and now is not the time for division
I must say, this way better than expected from GB. Maybe he will roast her later on his radio station
Stand FIRM PM.
Well said PM GB. Facts and figures.
Let the rest talk. It’s politics.
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