A major diplomatic rift has emerged within the leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) following objections raised by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar over the reappointment of CARICOM Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett.

Persad-Bissessar has formally requested that the issue be taken before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), arguing that the court should provide guidance on the legality and interpretation of the process that led to Barnett’s continued appointment as the region’s top administrative official.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister outlined her concerns in a 22-page letter addressed to the newly appointed CARICOM Chairman, St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. In the correspondence, Persad-Bissessar reportedly raised questions regarding the decision-making process and requested that the matter receive judicial review.

As part of her request, Persad-Bissessar called for Dr Barnett to recuse herself from participating in decisions involving the CARICOM Secretariat until the CCJ has provided its position on the matter.

The move has created tensions within the regional grouping, which traditionally operates through consensus among its member states. The dispute comes at a time when CARICOM leaders are seeking to strengthen cooperation on issues including economic development, food security, climate resilience, crime, and regional integration.

Dr Carla Barnett, a Belizean national, was appointed Secretary General of CARICOM in 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her reappointment has been viewed by some member states as a continuation of leadership stability within the Secretariat, while others have raised procedural concerns about the process.

The CARICOM Secretariat has not yet indicated how it intends to respond to the request for CCJ involvement or the call for Barnett’s temporary recusal.

The disagreement now places CARICOM’s leadership in an unusual position, with one of its most influential member states seeking judicial clarification on an internal governance matter involving the region’s highest administrative office.

Observers say the outcome could have implications for how future appointments within CARICOM are handled and may test the strength of the organisation’s consensus-based decision-making framework.