Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has withdrawn from the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, reversing an earlier announcement that she would lead the countryâs delegation.
The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed the change on Monday, November 2, stating that Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers would represent Trinidad and Tobago at the summit instead. Persad-Bissessar would return to her existing schedule of engagements in Trinidad and Tobago.
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The announcement came hours after the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs had outlined the Prime Ministerâs planned participation in several high-level meetings, including discussions on trade and investment, climate finance and sustainable development. She was also expected to attend a reception and dinner hosted by King Charles III for newly appointed heads of government.
The government initially provided no explanation for the sudden change. However, Persad-Bissessar later told Guardian Media that she had withdrawn after contracting a bad case of the flu.
The decision attracted criticism from former Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne, who questioned the Prime Ministerâs attendance record at important regional and international meetings. He described her record as âvery lowâ and criticised her absence from an earlier CARICOM Heads of Government retreat in Nevis.
Political analyst Dr Shane Mohammed, however, said the Prime Ministerâs absence should not be viewed as a major setback, provided the national delegation was adequately briefed and participated in the scheduled engagements.
CHOGM 2026 is being held in St. Johnâs, Antigua and Barbuda, under the theme âAccelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.â The gathering brings together leaders of the Commonwealthâs 56 member countries to discuss shared challenges and strengthen cooperation. It marks the first time in 17 years that the summit has been hosted in the Caribbean.
