CARICOM Chairman insists T’dad Foreign Minister absented from retreat due to seasickness

Last Updated on Saturday, 11 April 2026, 23:14 by Denis Chabrol

In the face of Trinidad and Tobago’s persistent claims that its Foreign Minister Sean Sobers was disinvited from a retreat of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at which the appointment of the regional bloc’s Secretary General was discussed, CARICOM Chairman Dr Terrance Drew Saturday night maintained that Mr Sobers said he could not attend because he suffers from seasickness.

And Dr Drew, who is also St Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, indicated that Trinidad and Tobago boycotted the Friday April 10 virtual summit at which Trinidad and Tobago’s concerns about the reappointment of Dr Carla Barnett for a second five-year term were discussed. “Neither the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago nor any representative from Trinidad and Tobago attended the Meeting,” Dr Drew said.

He said after Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar departed St Kitts and Nevis on the evening of February 25, the first day of the conference before the retreat on February 26.

The CARICOM Chairman said on February 25 at 10:33 PM, the Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Minister called the Secretary General on WhatsApp to inquire if he should attend the retreat in the absence of his Prime Minister and was told he could and that other leaders, who have had to leave may be represented by their Foreign
Ministers.

Dr Drew said evidence from the CARICOM Secretary General’s WhatsApp revealed that Mr Sobers indicated that he had a problem with seasickness so he may not be able to attend. He said at 10:55 PM on 25 February, he received the following WhatsApp messages from the Secretary General: “Chairman. TT Foreign Minister Sobers called me to ask if he should come to retreat in the absence of his PM. I indicated that other Heads who have left may be represented by their FMs.” “He also indicated he gets seasick, so he’s not looking forward to
the boat ride. So we may not have TT represented tomorrow.”

The CARICOM Chairman further states that at 12:37 AM on 26 February, the Secretary General sent the following message to Minister Sobers: “Minister, if the boat trip will cause nausea am sure the Chairman would understand if you chose not to come tomorrow.” Prime Minister Drew said the Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Minister did not subsequently indicate to the Chairman or the Secretary General that he would be willing and able to attend the retreat.

Reappointment of Secretary General Barnett

Clearly contradicting claims by the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister that the appointment of the incumbent or election of a new CARICOM Secretary General was not on the agenda, the CARICOM Chairman said the matter was discussed during the retreat under the agenda item, Financing and Governance of the Community. He detailed that CARICOM leaders decided to consider the reappointment of the Secretary General and agreed to the reappointment as provided for under Article 24 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

“The Secretary General was not in the room during the discussion of this matter,” the CARICOM Chairman sai.

He added that CARICOM leaders decided to delay the announcement so as to inform, “as a matter of courtesy”,
the heads who were not at the retreat, before the official announcement was made.  Dr Drew said attempts
were made to reach the leaders who were absent to inform of the decision, “but it was not possible to make contact with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago by email or telephone call.” After some efforts to reach the Prime Minister, Dr Drew said he was asked to speak with the Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana and Belize have since come out in support of the process for reappointing Dr Barnett, the first female Secretary General of CARICOM.

Maintaining that the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was violated, Trinidad and Tobago has ruled out exiting CARICOM but says it will cut funding to the regional grouping until it is fixed.