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Trinidad and Tobago Claims Exclusion From CARICOM Vote, Seeks Urgent Review
Trinidad and Tobago Claims Exclusion From CARICOM Vote, Seeks Urgent Review
By Aurax Desk | April 08, 2026 | 2 min read
Trinidad and Tobago is demanding answers after claiming it was excluded from a key CARICOM vote, raising concerns over transparency and regional governance.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for an urgent review after Trinidad and Tobago was allegedly excluded from a CARICOM vote.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is pushing for an urgent regional meeting after claiming it was “surreptitiously” excluded from a key CARICOM decision to reappoint Secretary-General Carla Barnett. Officials say the country was effectively “disinvited” from the voting process, raising serious concerns about transparency and adherence to established procedures.
Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said multiple formal requests for clarification went unanswered, describing the situation as “very troubling.” He argued that Trinidad and Tobago’s absence from the leaders’ retreat where the decision was made was “no accidental oversight,” and warned that the process may have breached the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Sean Sobers says the exclusion raises serious concerns about transparency in regional decision-making.
CARICOM leaders gather for regional discussions, as questions emerge over the voting process.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has strongly criticized the move, calling it a “surreptitious and odious” process and vowing to pursue the matter at the highest level. The government is now seeking to escalate the issue to CARICOM heads of government, with the possibility of reopening the selection process or calling for fresh elections.
The CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, where key regional decisions are coordinated.
Analysts and regional observers say the dispute could have broader implications for Caribbean unity and governance, with some advising Trinidad and Tobago to consider putting forward its own candidate for the top regional post. The controversy has also reignited debate about transparency and decision-making within CARICOM, as one of its largest financial contributors challenges the legitimacy of a key leadership appointment.
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