The 50th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government opened in St Kitts and Nevis with divisions emerging over regional foreign policy.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, used her address to criticise CARICOM’s position on Cuba and Venezuela. She said the regional body had failed to take a firm enough stance and aligned her government with United States calls for regime change in both countries.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar accused CARICOM of being influenced by governing parties and raised concerns about what she described as an unanswered 2022 letter regarding a Trinidadian national she says was kidnapped. She also criticised member states for sending political operatives to campaign in other countries’ elections.
Outgoing CARICOM chair, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, said the regional body was never intended to be a political union but a partnership of sovereign states.
The opening session ended with a calypso performance by St Kitts and Nevis’ Public Utilities Minister, who used the moment to criticise Trinidad and Tobago’s position while maintaining diplomatic ties with other global powers.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
PM Holness delivered good, solid and powerful remarks at the Caricom meeting now on the way in St. Kitts and Nevis. But it’s the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Ministers comments that seem to be the most talked about. In no uncertain terms, she made absolutely no apologies for the support and assistance that Trinidad and Tobago gave the United States even to the disappointment and anger of some of her Caricom colleagues. She made it known that every country in the Caribbean have a right to persue a foreign policy based on its own unique circumstances and interests, even if the majority of Caricom disagrees with such a stance. Her anti Maduro and anti the communist regime in Cuba was clear even as she was sympathetic to the plight of the Cuban people. She also made known that the current habit of regional politicians sending colleagues to other islands to campaign and meddle in other countries politics is in poor taste and should be stopped immediately. Like her or not, one can clearly see why she is the toast of Washington. She speak their language.