Political Scientist Dr. Shane Mohammed says the reappointment of Dr. Carla Barnett as Secretary-General of CARICOM “is not legal,” and is calling for an emergency meeting to resolve the matter.
Reports indicate the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has formally objected to Dr. Barnett’s reappointment, stating it was neither consulted nor allowed to participate in deliberations on her second term.
In an interview with TTT News on Thursday, Dr. Mohammed said as long as there’s an objection, there has to be a discussion and a vote in some instances.
“As the fact that Trinidad and Tobago and/or any other Member State has objected, and there’s a no to the appointment of the Secretary-General Barnett to the role, the fact that an objection has been raised, one, there’s an Emergency Meeting that can be called, two, the Secretary-General can choose to resign, or essentially, there should be an emergency meeting up ahead and a decision taken. The bottom line is, most decisions, according to Rule 24, they first need to agree by consensus. When there is no consensus, they then move to a vote.”
Dr. Mohammed also raised concerns about the process, noting that the issue of Dr. Barnett’s reappointment was not placed on the agenda for the February meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government and was not formally discussed in plenary. Instead, it was raised at a retreat with the Heads.
“The retreat is like an addendum that allows Heads of Government, because it’s exclusive. First and foremost, it is exclusive to only Heads of Government, not Ministers, not anybody part of the entourage, no representatives of the Member States, save and except for the Heads of Government. And what it is, is an opportunity for Heads to get together and to fellowship and whatnot with each other. It’s not a formal entity within the structure, nor is it an entity where formal decision-making takes place. So, for example, with regard to this matter of the election or appointment of a CG, of an SG, that should have first and foremost been on the agenda as part of the overall proceedings of the CARICOM heads. And as part of the agenda, it should have been tabled for discussion, for conversation, for, in some instances, debate. But the bottom line is, it is not for the decision to be made at the retreat. Any discussion that was raised at the retreat has to come back to the conference to be able to have a formal decision taken. So the fact that where the uproar is happening is that this appointment is essentially ultra-viral.”
The Political Scientist said Trinidad and Tobago’s views should be taken in consideration as “We are the highest contributing member. We, Trinidad and Tobago, as a state from inception of the CARICOM, contribute 22 percent to the budget and to the functioning of the CARICOM secretariat. And, therefore, Trinidad and Tobago is a critical aspect. What this is, is that, first and foremost, a decision – the decision is not legal. Trinidad and Tobago has also objected.”
With Trinidad and Tobago formally objecting, Dr. Mohammed maintained that the next step is unavoidable: “Trinidad and Tobago has said no, has objected, and therefore a meeting has to be held, whether by heads virtually, for a decision to be made on the way forward, whether that means that other countries, including us, can submit a nomination.”