Wickham warns CARICOM row hurting regional unity

Political consultant and Director of the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) Peter Wickham is warning that the escalating dispute between CARICOM and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is damaging regional unity and distracting from more pressing issues.

Speaking in an interview with Guardian Media, Wickham described the ongoing public exchanges as “most unfortunate”, arguing that they are undermining the credibility of the regional body.

“I know this has descended into a conversation about whether her foreign minister could have and should have been invited… This is an unfortunate discussion that is bringing a major and important issue into disrepute,” he said.

The controversy stems from a recent CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts and Nevis, where Secretary-General Carla Barnett was reappointed during a Heads-only retreat.

Persad-Bissessar has since raised concerns about the transparency of the process, particularly regarding the participation of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers.

However, Wickham maintained that decisions taken at such meetings must stand, especially when member states are absent.

“If you attend a meeting and a decision is made, it stands. If you absent yourself, then unfortunately you cannot be part of that decision-making process,” he said.

He also suggested that the T&T Prime Minister has yet to clearly state her core objection to Barnett’s reappointment.

“One of my concerns is that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has not stated exactly what her issue with Dr Carla Barnett is,” Wickham said.

“I have not heard any clear indication as to what her problem is, beyond claims that her minister was disinvited and that proper procedure was not followed.”

Wickham went further, suggesting the dispute may point to deeper tensions.

“I think this is essentially a smokescreen for larger issues she has with CARICOM,” he said.

He also questioned whether the public nature of the disagreement is helping to resolve the issue.

“I am not sure that this conversation, especially as it is playing out in the media, is helpful. I don’t think it is going to resolve anything,” he added.

Wickham argued that opportunities for direct engagement may have been missed, noting the Prime Minister’s absence from key discussions.

“If she wanted resolution, she would have gone to Nevis… and engaged in those discussions in pursuit of resolving these issues,” he said.

He stressed that Trinidad and Tobago has historically played a central role in CARICOM, warning that any breakdown in relations could have wider regional consequences.