PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has escalated a growing regional dispute by publishing a Trinidad and Tobago government letter, arguing that it reinforces her country’s position and challenges claims made by St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew.
Persad-Bissessar released the April 9, 2026, correspondence from Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs on Facebook after Drew’s April 8 letter circulated publicly. She indicated that transparency required both documents to be available, given the widening debate across conventional and social media.
Retreat exclusion raises CARICOM transparency concerns
The published letter draws attention to events surrounding a CARICOM leaders’ retreat, where questions have emerged over participation and internal communication within the regional body.
Persad-Bissessar suggested that an organization of CARICOM’s standing should be able to provide documentation requested in relation to the meeting, as scrutiny grows over how decisions were handled. The issue has fueled broader concern about whether established procedures were followed, building on earlier reporting on the CARICOM Secretary-General dispute and Kamla’s backing.
She also pointed to communication on the morning of the retreat that reportedly disinvited Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister Sobers from the session. That development has raised further questions about how attendance decisions were made and conveyed among member states.
Transparency demands grow as Trinidad Rebuts Drew
Calls for greater transparency have moved to the center of the dispute, with Persad-Bissessar urging CARICOM officials to release documentation tied to the controversy.
In her Facebook post, she argued that if Drew’s April 8 letter had already entered the public domain, the April 9 correspondence from Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs should also be made public. She maintained that CARICOM should be able to provide the relevant records requested in a matter of such importance.
Persad-Bissessar also called on the CARICOM Secretariat to address the communication sent on the morning of the retreat that reportedly disinvited Minister Sobers from the meeting. By placing both the letter and her remarks in the public domain, she increased pressure on regional officials to clarify how the situation was handled.
Regional implications for CARICOM governance
The dispute now carries broader implications for governance and trust within CARICOM, particularly as questions persist about how key decisions are documented and communicated.
For member states, the controversy highlights the importance of transparency and consistent procedures in regional decision-making, especially on matters involving leadership processes and high-level meetings.
As calls for clarification continue, the situation underscores rising tensions within the bloc and could influence how CARICOM manages internal disputes going forward.
