St Kitts PM Rebukes Public CARICOM Debates
Outgoing CARICOM Chairman and St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew warned regional leaders against airing internal CARICOM disputes in public, saying such debates threaten the community's cohesion. He urged heads of government to use private retreats and caucuses to resolve sensitive matters and rebuild trust within the bloc.
At the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew cautioned regional leaders about taking internal disputes into the public arena, saying recent public debates have called the unity of the community into question.
While he did not name individuals, Drew’s remarks appeared linked to highly publicised exchanges surrounding the proposed reappointment of CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, a debate driven in part by comments from Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Drew said such public airing of private matters raised “genuine concerns about the future of our community.” (Source: Virgin Islands News Online) Drew, the outgoing CARICOM Chairman, said his priority during the chairmanship was to rebuild trust. He said he visited every full member state and met with every head of government to listen and to give leaders a space to speak openly.
He urged colleagues to make every effort to attend retreats and caucuses — sessions he described as among CARICOM’s greatest strengths because they allow candid discussion away from cameras and prepared statements. "Whenever this community faces matter of great significance, let us ensure that every head of government make every effort to be present for our retreats and caucuses to resolve matters in-house," Drew told delegates.
He warned that handling CARICOM business through headlines risks derailing the movement and undermining regional cohesion. For residents of the British Virgin Islands, an associate member of CARICOM, the appeal for discretion and unity carries practical significance. CARICOM cohesion affects regional cooperation on disaster response, public health, travel, trade negotiations and security initiatives that can directly influence how the BVI accesses assistance, participates in regional programmes and coordinates with neighbouring territories during emergencies.
Drew framed unity as indispensable to regional security and resilience, arguing leaders must strengthen relationships before resolving internal issues. His message calls on political leaders across the Caribbean to prioritise institutional solidarity and to limit public disputes that could weaken CARICOM’s collective voice on the global stage.
As the community moves forward, the emphasis is on rebuilding trust through private dialogue and consensus-building — a process Drew said is essential if CARICOM is to survive and respond effectively to regional challenges.
Primary source: VINO