Attorney General John Jeremie SC has welcomed CARICOM’s decision to seek an Advisory Opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett.
In a statement on Thursday, the Attorney General congratulated Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC on her “principled leadership” at the recent Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM and said he looked forward to a rules-based resolution of the impasse which he said “has weakened confidence in the governance processes of the Caribbean Community.”
“The decision by the Conference to refer the question concerning the reappointment of the Secretary-General to the Caribbean Court of Justice for an Advisory Opinion represents a significant affirmation of the rule of law and of the constitutional principles upon which CARICOM is founded.”
Dr Barnett was reappointed at a CARICOM Heads of Government retreat in February, during which some leaders were absent. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar challenged the process, raising concerns about transparency and calling for documentation, including meeting records and a performance review.
AG Jeremie said the Prime Minister’s position was not political, but was instead grounded in ensuring the proper procedures were followed.
“The Prime Minister’s position was neither personal nor political. It was grounded in the fundamental principle that the legitimacy of regional institutions depends upon adherence to established legal procedures, transparency, fairness and institutional accountability. Her willingness to raise these concerns, notwithstanding the challenges involved, reflects leadership of conviction and an unwavering commitment to democratic governance.”
The Attorney General also expressed his appreciation to CARICOM Heads of Government for agreeing to resolve the matter through the appropriate constitutional process.
He said by seeking the guidance of the Caribbean Court of Justice, CARICOM had reaffirmed its confidence in the region’s highest judicial institution and demonstrated that questions of legal uncertainty are best resolved through the rule of law rather than political expediency.