Holness says Jamaica not seeking to overturn Barnett reappointment

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica is not seeking to overturn the decision by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to reappoint Dr. Carla Barnett as secretary-general, but remains concerned that the process used has failed to resolve questions raised by member states.

In a July 5 letter to CARICOM Chairman and St. Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Holness said the issue requires further attention, noting that “the length of time devoted to this agenda item attests to the gravity and potential ramifications of the issue at hand.”

He said Jamaica’s position builds on one communicated on May 8 and expands on concerns regarding procedural issues surrounding Barnett’s reappointment.

“I reaffirm, at the outset, that Jamaica is not by this letter seeking to overturn the decision taken in February 2026 to reappoint Dr Carla Barnett as Secretary General of Caricom. However, I remain concerned that the approach taken has neither resolved the matter nor promoted the spirit and goals of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas,” Holness wrote.

The Jamaican leader said the fact that a member state has “formally and consistently expressed opposition to a matter, on procedural and other grounds,” and that the issue has become a public controversy, should not be ignored.

“It has become clear that we were not all on the same page. Therefore, it is important that any concerns be addressed in a meaningful manner to restore cohesion, if not unity, which is indispensable to the effective functioning of Caricom,” he said.

The controversy stems from Trinidad and Tobago’s objection to the manner in which Barnett, the first woman appointed CARICOM secretary-general, was reappointed during a leaders’ retreat in St. Kitts and Nevis in February.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said she will not recognise Barnett when her current term ends in August and has submitted a 22-page letter to CARICOM leaders calling for an advisory opinion from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Persad-Bissessar has also proposed that Barnett be engaged on a “month-to-month basis” pending a determination by the court.

“Such an interim extension should be expressly stated to be without prejudice to the legal rights or positions of any Member State, and should not be construed as affirming the validity of the impugned reappointment process,” she wrote.

She further called for Barnett to recuse herself from any involvement in proceedings before the CCJ and said CARICOM’s General Counsel should also recuse herself because of her role as adviser to the secretary-general.

The issue has become a central discussion point among leaders attending the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Summit, who entered retreat on the first working day of the four-day meeting.

In his letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Holness said the explanations provided so far regarding the reappointment process “have neither advanced procedural certainty nor reassured all Member States.”

“I urge reflection as well as focused and strengthened engagement with Trinidad and Tobago at both the levels of Heads of Government and the Secretariat. Jamaica will continue its own engagement, mindful of the need to ensure that the concerns of all Member States are effectively addressed,” he wrote.

Holness also provided a review of previous secretary-general appointments, arguing that the process used for Barnett’s reappointment represented a departure from earlier practices and CARICOM’s established procedures.

“Given the provisions that guided the appointments of the previous two occupants of the post, who both served following the Revised Treaty in 2021, we can agree that the timing and the process of reappointment that was taken in St Kitts and Nevis in February 2026, constituted a departure from not only previous practice, but from the Rules of Procedure established by the conference,” he wrote.

He said the controversy has raised concerns among citizens and international partners who are watching how CARICOM handles the matter.

“Confidence in our community is crucial — among our citizens, Member States and international partners, particularly at this juncture where we are seeking to diversify our partnership and development support,” Holness said.

The prime minister welcomed the work of the Committee of Ambassadors reviewing and updating the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Heads of Government, saying the process could help clarify procedures currently under discussion.

“As a member state driven organisation, the importance of cohesion and confidence cannot be overstated,” Holness wrote.

“Jamaica looks forward to continued and renewed engagement…in the hope that our community will advance in a spirit of unity, transparency and solidarity, principles which are the cornerstone of our regional integration project,” he added.