Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has indicated that he expects Dr. Carla Barnett to remain in office as Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as the 15-member regional grouping awaits an advisory ruling from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the matter.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said his recollection of the decision taken by regional leaders supports Dr. Barnett continuing in the post. “If my memory serves me right, our decision…” he said, before addressing the ongoing process that has placed the question of the Secretary General’s reappointment before the CCJ for legal clarification.
The issue of Dr. Barnett’s tenure has been a point of discussion among CARICOM heads of government in recent months. The CCJ’s advisory opinion is expected to settle the procedural questions surrounding the reappointment, which have arisen despite the general expectation that the Belizean national would serve a second term.
Prime Minister Skerrit’s comments come as the regional body continues its work on a range of matters, including trade, climate resilience, and the free movement of people within the Community. Dominica has been an active member of CARICOM since the grouping’s founding, and the Prime Minister has consistently emphasised the importance of regional unity and the smooth functioning of its institutions.
The Caribbean Court of Justice, which serves as the final court of appeal for several CARICOM member states and as the arbiter of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, was asked to weigh in on the reappointment process after disagreement emerged among member states over the procedure followed.
Dr. Barnett, a former Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM and former President of the Senate of Belize, was appointed Secretary General in 2021. She is the first woman to hold the position. Her reappointment has been backed by several member states, including Dominica, which view continuity in the role as important for the implementation of the Community’s strategic plan.
The Prime Minister did not provide a timeline for the CCJ’s ruling but expressed confidence that the process would be resolved in a manner consistent with the rules and traditions of the regional body. He also reaffirmed Dominica’s commitment to the principles of the Caribbean Community and to working with all member states to advance the region’s shared interests.
The outcome of the CCJ’s advisory opinion will determine whether Dr. Barnett remains at the helm of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, or whether a new appointment process must be initiated. Until then, the Prime Minister said, he expects the current Secretary General to continue in her duties.
