Jamaica expresses concerns over CARICOM Secretary General’s reappointment

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed Jamaica’s concern regarding the appointment of Dr Carla Barnett as Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Dr. Holness, who is now in St. Lucia attending the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the CARICOM) from July 5 to July 8, argues that while Jamaica is not seeking to overturn the decision of regional leaders to reappoint Dr. Barnett, the country remains “concerned that the approach taken has neither resolved the matter nor promoted the spirit and goals of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas”.

In a July 5, 2026, letter sent to CARICOM Chairman and St Lucia Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, Dr. Holness wrote that “the length of time devoted to this agenda item attests to the gravity and potential ramifications of the issue at hand”.

Not seeking to overturn decision

“I reaffirm, at the outset, that Jamaica is not, by this letter, seeking to overturn the decision taken in February 2026 to reappoint Dr Carla Barnett as Secretary General of CARICOM. However, I remain concerned that the approach taken has neither resolved the matter nor promoted the spirit and goals of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas,” Holness wrote.

Holness contended that, as a matter of principle, the fact that one CARICOM member state “has formally and consistently expressed opposition to a matter, on procedural and other grounds”, and the fact that the issue has since become one of public controversy, “should be of grave concern to us and should not be disregarded”.

For Prime Minister Holness, “it has become clear that we were not all on the same page. Therefore, it is important that any concerns be addressed in a meaningful manner to restore cohesion, if not unity, which is indispensable to the effective functioning of CARICOM.” 

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has publicly criticised the manner in which Barnett, the first woman ever appointed CARICOM Secretary General, was reappointed by leaders during their retreat in St Kitts and Nevis in February. 

T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that she will not recognise the Belizean economist when her current term ends in August and has since submitted a 22-page letter to CARICOM urging regional leaders to seek an opinion from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the issue. She has also proposed that Barnett be retained on a month-to-month basis until there is a determination by the CCJ. 

In her letter Persad-Bissessar wrote, “such an interim extension should be expressly stated to be without prejudice to the legal rights or positions of any member state, and should not be construed as affirming the validity of the impugned reappointment process…Pending the determination of the advisory proceedings: (a) the incumbent Secretary General shall fully recuse herself from the exercise of any authority whatsoever or take any decision, directly or indirectly, regarding the said advisory proceedings.”

Persad-Bissessar argued that the CARICOM General Counsel “shall recuse herself from the matter of the advisory opinion in light of her primary role as an adviser to the Secretary General, who is subject to the proposed advisory opinion”. The contents of the letters from Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have become a major talking point for leaders who went into retreat on the first working day of their four-day summit.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness has welcomed the ongoing work of the Committee of Ambassadors to review and update the Rules of Procedure of the Conference with a view to clarifying the processes presently under discussion. 

In closing Dr. Holness wrote, “Jamaica looks forward to continued and renewed engagement … in the hope that our Community will advance in a spirit of unity, transparency and solidarity — principles which are the cornerstone of our regional integration project.”