CARICOM hires external law firm for Secretary-General dispute

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has hired an external regional law firm to manage its response to a legal challenge regarding the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett. The dispute was initiated by Trinidad and Tobago, which has requested an advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) concerning the legality of the appointment process.

CARICOM Chairman and St. Lucia Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre announced that the appointment of external counsel is intended to ensure transparency and independence. To maintain a clear separation between administrative operations and the legal dispute, neither Dr. Barnett nor CARICOM’s internal counsel will participate in the process.

The disagreement stems from Trinidad and Tobago’s assertion that the procedure used to retain Dr. Barnett for a second term did not comply with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has stated that the objection is based on legal adherence rather than political motives. The external counsel has been granted access to relevant documents and precedents to prepare CARICOM’s position.