As Trinidad and Tobago continues to heap pressure on CARICOM over the reappointment of Dr Carla Barnett as Secretary General of the regional body, President Irfaan Ali today said he is standing by the decision to reappoint Dr. Barnett.

On the sidelines of an event this morning at the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force, President Ali told reporters that he was involved in the discussions that led to the reappointment of Dr. Barnett, and stands by that decision.

“Let me be fully transparent on this matter, I was involved in the discussions, as all other Heads, on the reappointment of the Secretary General. We support the reappointment of the Secretary General, that’s the first thing, and I hope it brings clarity” the President said from the onset.

In a majority decision by the CARICOM Heads of Government, Dr. Barnett was reappointed Secretary-General of the Regional Bloc during the 50^th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community held in St. Kitts and Nevis last February.

But the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar has since rejected Dr. Barnett’s reappointment.

In a statement on Sunday, Persad-Bissessar said while her country remains committed to CARICOM, her Government will not continue to contribute to CARICOM unless the issue is transparently addressed. She contends that the proper procedure was not followed in the reappointment of Dr. Barnett, and is therefore demanding a full explanation.

But President Ali today assured that established protocols were followed with the reappointment of Dr. Barnett as the Community’s Secretary-General.

“I was there when the Secretary General was appointed the first time and we did not follow any process that is different from the first time. When you go to CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, there is of course the general meeting, the plenary, and then there was the caucus and this matter was discussed in caucus and views were exchanged and the decision was taken,” the President explained.

He said as part of any democracy, every leader has the right to share his or her perspective on any issue.

Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar contends that Dr. Barnett’s reappointment for another five years has direct ramifications for her country, thereby signaling her dissatisfaction with Dr. Barnett’s first term.

“This is not a simple run-of-the-mill administrative appointment; it’s an appointment with long-term ramifications for my citizens. It’s an appointment that directly affects the future over the coming five years of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy, security, integration, and foreign affairs. Therefore, in the interest of my citizens wellbeing I will mercilessly, relentlessly, and if needed, ruthlessly publicly prosecute this matter until transparency is achieved,” the T&T Prime Minister said.

Trinidad has since written to the Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrence Drew formally placing its objection to the re-appointment of Dr Barnett as Secretary-General of CARICOM on record.

Related posts:

Trinidad and Tobago Government demands answers on reappointment of CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett Persad-Bissessar hammers CARICOM over its “unreliability” and silence on major security issues CARICOM appoints first female Secretary-General CARICOM stands solidly behind Guyana in latest controversy with Venezuela