Caricom Heads agree to seek CCJ advisory opinion on SG’s reappointment

…status quo to remain while regional court considers request

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) will seek an advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the process used in the reappointment of the Community’s Secretary-General (SG) after the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago maintained its objection to the procedure. The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday following the retreat of Caricom Heads of Government held on Monday. According to the statement, Trinidad and Tobago reiterated its objection to the process used in the reappointment of the SG, Dr Carla Barnett, and requested that the matter be referred to the CCJ for an advisory opinion. To facilitate that request, Caricom agreed to commence proceedings under Article 212 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to obtain the court’s interpretation of the matter. The Community said the CCJ was established to serve as the treaty interpretation body for Caricom and that referring the issue to the court was consistent with that role.

Status quo
Heads of Government also agreed that the status quo regarding the reappointment of the SG would remain in place unless and until the Community considers the advisory opinion issued by the CCJ. According to the statement, the agreed approach allows the matter to be resolved in an amicable manner without affecting the community’s ability to continue conducting its affairs. The Heads of Government further reaffirmed that the ongoing review of Caricom’s governance architecture is part of a mandate agreed at the previous conference in St Kitts and Nevis to strengthen the governance of the community and enhance its effectiveness. The statement stressed that the review process does not impugn the integrity of any Member State or individual but reflects the Community’s collective commitment to continuous institutional improvement and the highest standards of good governance. The regional leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals and objectives of the Caribbean Community, stating that they will continue to work in unity to advance the interests of the region while addressing the challenges currently facing Caricom.

Controversy
Dr Carla Barnett was reappointed to serve a second term as Caricom SG during the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St Kitts and Nevis in February 2026. The decision, announced by then Caricom Chairman, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister (PM) Dr Terrance Drew, stated that Barnett had secured the required majority of support from Member States. Her second term is scheduled to commence in August 2026. The reappointment subsequently became the subject of controversy after Trinidad and Tobago challenged the process through which the decision was made. The twin-island republic argued that the matter was decided during a Heads of Government retreat rather than through the formal conference process and maintained that its representatives were excluded from the discussions. While several Caricom leaders, including Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, defended the procedure as consistent with previous appointments, Trinidad and Tobago continued to press for an independent legal interpretation, leading to the decision to seek an advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice.