The dispute over the reappointment of CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett will be referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), following agreement by Caribbean leaders at the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia.
The decision follows months of disagreement after Kamla Persad-Bissessar challenged both the procedure and legality of Dr. Barnett’s reappointment during a closed-door CARICOM retreat held in St. Kitts and Nevis earlier this year. Trinidad and Tobago argued that the process failed to comply with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas because designated representatives were excluded from participating and the required procedural steps were not followed.
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Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar welcomed the decision to seek the CCJ’s interpretation, saying it reflects Trinidad and Tobago’s longstanding position that questions involving the interpretation of the Treaty should be resolved by the Community’s highest judicial authority rather than through political debate.
The referral follows an independent legal opinion by University of the West Indies professor Rajendra Ramlogan, who concluded that Dr. Barnett’s reappointment was procedurally flawed and potentially void because it allegedly lacked the required approval process under the Treaty. While the opinion fueled regional debate, CARICOM leaders opted to seek a definitive legal ruling from the CCJ.
At the same time, CARICOM Heads of Government issued a statement reaffirming their confidence in Dr. Barnett and confirmed that she will continue to serve as Secretary-General while the Court considers the matter. Leaders stressed that the referral is intended to provide legal clarity and strengthen the Community’s governance framework, rather than cast doubt on the functioning of the Secretariat.
The CCJ, which has original jurisdiction over disputes involving the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, is expected to determine whether the reappointment process complied with CARICOM’s constitutional requirements. Its ruling is likely to establish an important precedent for how future appointments and major decisions are handled within the regional integration movement.
