As regional diplomacy heats up, Belize is drawing a firm line in support of CARICOM’s top official. As doubts surface over the reappointment of CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, the Government of Belize says it stands squarely behind her leadership. The debate was sparked after Trinidad and Tobago raised procedural concerns, but Belize insists there is broad regional backing for Dr. Barnett to continue at the helm. Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca weighed in today, making it clear that Belize views continuity as critical for the regional bloc at a time of shared economic and geopolitical challenges.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“We fully support the reappointment of Dr. Carla Barnett. We recognize that Trinidad and Tobago has raised certain concerns, procedural concerns about her reappointment. We agree that those have to be addressed within CARICOM. But, Belize fully supports Dr. Barnett’s reappointment. We think the great majority of countries in CARICOM do. I think this was one issue that may have gotten lost in the discussion, her term really comes to an end in August. So I don’t think it was the intention that it was at this meeting there would be a final determination of her reappointment. But it was discussed at the leaders retreat and the leaders expressed their support for her reappointment. Now it is a question of formalizing that reappointment at the subsequent meeting. They will have another meeting in July. At that meeting there will be a formal reappointment process.”
Fonseca also hinted that the issue is far from settled, with CARICOM leaders expected to revisit the matter when they meet later this year, setting the stage for further high‑level discussions behind closed doors.
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