Kamla Persad-Bissessar Criticizes Caricom Over Maduro Support & US Operations
San Cristóbal y Nieves – Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has sharply criticised the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), accusing the regional bloc of losing its way and questioning its reliability as a partner. The rebuke, delivered during a recent CARICOM meeting, stems from disagreements over the organisation’s stance on both the United States and Venezuela and signals a potential shift in Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign policy direction.
Persad-Bissessar’s criticism centres on what she perceives as a contradiction in CARICOM’s approach. She questioned the organisation’s decision to criticise recent U.S. Immigration restrictions – imposed on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica due to concerns over Citizenship by Investment programmes – while simultaneously offering support to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. “An organisation that chooses to disparage our greatest ally the United States but lends support to the Maduro narco-government headed by a dictator who has imprisoned and killed thousands of civilians and members of the opposition as well as threatened two Caricom members is one that has clearly lost its way,” she stated, according to a press release issued .
The U.S. Restrictions, announced on , partially suspend entry for individuals under certain visa categories from the two Caribbean nations, citing national security concerns related to their Citizenship by Investment programmes. Persad-Bissessar defended Washington’s move as a “measured response” and argued that sovereign states must accept the consequences of their domestic and foreign policy choices.
The Prime Minister’s comments follow a period of strained relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, which included a complete breakdown in commercial ties and a declaration of Persad-Bissessar as persona non grata
by the Maduro government. This occurred prior to a U.S.-backed military incursion into Caracas in January, which led to Maduro’s removal from power. Venezuela had previously suspended energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, halting anticipated gas exports to the island nation located just 10 kilometers
from the Venezuelan coast.
Persad-Bissessar went further, outlining broader concerns about CARICOM’s management, accountability, internal divisions, and alleged interference in the domestic affairs of member states. She indicated that Trinidad and Tobago would no longer align its foreign and security policies with the bloc’s dictates. “Trinidad and Tobago will not be bound by the ideologies, political and foreign and security policies of CARICOM,” she asserted, stating that her country would now elaborate its policies…to defend our sovereignty as we deem appropriate.
In a move that underscores her alignment with Washington, Persad-Bissessar expressed gratitude for a U.S. Anti-narcotics operation that has involved the destruction of over 40 vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. While the operation has resulted in more than 150 fatalities, Persad-Bissessar claims it has contributed to a significant reduction in crime within Trinidad and Tobago, citing a 42%
decrease in the national homicide rate – equivalent to 257 fewer murders.
The installation of a radar system by U.S. Marines on Trinidad and Tobago in December, intended to combat drug trafficking and the illicit trade of Venezuelan crude oil subject to sanctions, further highlights the deepening security cooperation between the two countries.
The public rift between Persad-Bissessar and CARICOM represents one of the most serious challenges to the regional bloc in recent years. The criticism from the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister raises questions about the future cohesion of CARICOM and its ability to present a unified front on critical regional issues. Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne responded to Persad-Bissessar’s comments by affirming his country’s respect for the sovereign right of CARICOM members to pursue bilateral relations, while also expecting reciprocal respect for its own engagements with the United States.
The situation also underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Caribbean, where nations are navigating relationships with both the United States and Venezuela, and grappling with issues of security, economic development, and regional integration. Persad-Bissessar’s decision to prioritise alignment with Washington, even at the expense of regional solidarity, reflects a calculated assessment of Trinidad and Tobago’s national interests in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.