JOHN’S, Antigua April 16, 2026 -Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders, has urged CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett to resign, warning that her continued presence risks deepening divisions within the regional bloc.
Speaking on ABS Television, Sanders said that if he were in Barnett’s position, he would step aside “on principle” to avoid becoming the source of discord among member states. He cautioned that her leadership could become untenable if a major member state refuses to participate in CARICOM meetings under her tenure. “Why am I still there? Because it is clear that I will never enjoy her support,” he said, stressing that regional unity must take precedence over individual officeholders.
Barnett was reappointed during the recent CARICOM summit in Basseterre, where Chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew announced she had secured majority support. Drew defended the process, saying all member states were properly informed ahead of the meeting and that the decision was taken during a leaders-only retreat in Nevis.
However, Trinidad and Tobago abstained from the vote and has since demanded the release of meeting minutes and documentation to clarify the process. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has strongly opposed Barnett’s reappointment, describing it as “a corrupt backroom operation that rots the organization to the detriment of Caribbean people.” She added, “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.”
The dispute has placed CARICOM at a crossroads. Sanders’ intervention highlights the risk of institutional strain if the controversy is not resolved, while Drew’s defense underscores efforts to maintain stability. Persad-Bissessar’s rejection signals a serious fracture, raising questions about whether CARICOM can preserve unity amid growing pressure on Barnett to weigh her position against the wider interests of Caribbean integration.