The government of Antigua and Barbuda has thrown its support behind CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, even as a regional dispute over the legitimacy of her reappointment deepens.
According to Antigua News Room, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced that Cabinet holds "very high confidence" in Dr. Barnett's leadership and praised her performance throughout her current term.
The endorsement comes amid mounting controversy following a declaration by CARICOM Chairman Dr. Terrance Drew that a majority of regional leaders had agreed to extend Dr. Barnett's tenure for a second five-year term, set to begin in August 2026.
Trinidad and Tobago has moved to challenge that decision. Foreign Minister Sean Sobers told Parliament that the matter was never formally placed on the agenda of the bloc's February summit in Basseterre, nor officially discussed there. Sobers said the reappointment was instead raised during a private leaders' retreat in Nevis — a session from which several countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, were absent.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has since rejected the reappointment outright, arguing that it violated CARICOM's established rules, which require a formal recommendation from the Community Council. She has also warned that Trinidad and Tobago may reduce its financial contributions to the organisation if the matter is not resolved properly.
Former CARICOM official Joseph Cox cautioned that the dispute risks undermining Dr. Barnett's authority, noting that effective regional governance depends on consensus and institutional trust.
Dr. Barnett has not issued any public statement in response to the controversy. The matter is expected to be taken up again at the next CARICOM summit, scheduled to take place in Saint Lucia in July 2026.
