Prime Minister Gaston Browne has joined fellow CARICOM Heads of Government at a regional summit where the reappointment of Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett has become a central point of contention.
According to Antigua News Room, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have raised concerns over the procedure used to extend Barnett's tenure, prompting formal debate among regional leaders.
In response to the dispute, the Heads of Government agreed to seek an advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to clarify the rules governing the appointment of the Secretary General. Barnett will remain in her post while the process of obtaining the court's opinion is underway.
The summit is also addressing a broad range of pressing regional matters, including global geopolitical developments, energy security, food security, and other challenges confronting CARICOM member states.
Prime Minister Browne is attending the conference with a four-member delegation. The group includes Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to CARICOM, Dr. Clarence Henry, Senior Foreign Service Officer Kurt Williams, and Project Development Officer Juray Roberts.
The conference is expected to produce decisions on several regional priorities as CARICOM continues to navigate economic, political, and security challenges across the Caribbean.
