T&T Threatens to Slash CARICOM Funding After Belizean Sec. Gen. Reappointed

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has confirmed that Dr Carla Barnett will serve a second term as Secretary-General, beginning in August 2026, after the required majority of Heads of Government agreed to her reappointment at a regional meeting.

The decision was made at the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, chaired by St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew on Wednesday. However, the announcement has triggered political tension, with Trinidad and Tobago strongly opposing the move.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she does not support the reappointment and accused CARICOM of long-standing inefficiency, stating that the regional bloc “has been failing for 52 years” and will continue to struggle unless major changes are made.

“Trinidad and Tobago is not going to continue funding CARICOM at the current levels that we are ­providing,” she added.

In an interview with the Daily Express, Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago currently provides 22% of the regional bloc’s budget.

As one of CARICOM’s largest financial contributors, the Express estimates that Trinidad and Tobago provides between US$4 million and US$5 million annually.