The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar continues her scorched earth campaign against Caricom Secretary General, Belize's Dr Carla Barnett. In a post made just this afternoon, she seemed to refer to Barnett's re-appointment as a, quote, "a corrupt backroom operation that rots the organization to the detriment of Caribbean people."
She adds, quote, "The leadership at CARICOM particularly at the Secretariat is dysfunctional, dishonest and incompetent.…this matter will continue to be ruthlessly and relentlessly publicly escalated and prosecuted until persons are held accountable for their odious…."
Harsh words, and one distinguished Antiguan and Barbudan diplomat, academic, and author, Sir Ronald Saunders told that country's ABS News that he thinks Dr. Barnett should resign:
Sir Ron Sanders, Antigua And Barbuda's Ambassador to the US
"If I were the Secretary General of CARICOM - and I'm being quite serious here - and this had occurred, I would resign. I would've resigned because I would've said I must not stand in the way of Caribbean integration and the movement forward. And it is clear to me, that a senior government and prime minister is not in favor of my appointment. Why am I still there? Because it is clear that I will never enjoy her support and why therefore would I put myself in a situation in which I am now the cause of the rift? If I were Carla Barnett, I would resign now, on principle because she will never have, Kamla Persad-Bissessar will not attend the meeting if Carla Barnett is at that meeting, neither will her foreign minister and I suspect none of our ministers will attend either."
Secretary-General Barnett is currently participating in the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development in Santiago, Chile.
