Caption: Members of the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago May 3, 2025

Summary

• Government MPs have publicly backed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar after her remarks at the CARICOM summit in St Kitts and Nevis.
• Persad-Bissessar said Trinidad and Tobago will not bind itself to CARICOM foreign and security positions and will craft its own policies to protect sovereignty.
• Her speech also addressed Venezuela, illegal migration, crime and security cooperation with the United States, Cuba, and Haiti.
• Ministers and MPs described the address as frank, necessary and aimed at accountability and “meaningful integration” within CARICOM.
• Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said the ministry is fully aligned with the prime minister’s position.

 

By Prior Beharry

GOVERNEMNT MPs have rallied behind Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar following her wide-ranging and controversial remarks at Tuesday’s CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St Kitts and Nevis, praising what they described as a frank defence of Trinidad and Tobago’s sovereignty and national interest.

In her address, Persad-Bissessar criticised regional leaders for what she said was their decision to “lend support” to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro amid threats to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. She also declared that Trinidad and Tobago would no longer bind itself to CARICOM’s foreign and security policy positions, saying the country would craft its own approach to defend its sovereignty.

The Prime Minister also thanked the United States for its role in countering trafficking from Venezuela and claimed that US military action, along with a tougher local policy approach, helped drive a reduction in murders in 2025. She further warned that illegal migration was straining public services and state finances, signalling that Trinidad and Tobago could not implement full CARICOM free movement in the near term.

Persad-Bissessar additionally called for democratic elections in Cuba and voiced support for an international force to suppress gang violence and restore order in Haiti.

Couva North MP and Acting Prime Minister Jearlean John also backed Persad-Bissessar, saying her remarks did not shy away from difficult observations about how regional mechanisms function, while urging stronger cooperation, responsiveness and accountability within CARICOM. John said the Prime Minister raised issues “often left unspoken” and advanced a conversation aimed at “meaningful integration rather than symbolic consensus.”

Couva South MP and Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath, in a statement, said the Prime Minister’s address was “frank, constructive and unapologetically honest,” adding: “What the country and the region witnessed was not routine diplomacy. It was decisive leadership.”

Padarath said Persad-Bissessar was clear that Trinidad and Tobago would not align its foreign and security policy with external political ideologies where such alignment compromised sovereignty or national interest, describing the position as “responsible” and “long overdue.”

He also pointed to crime statistics to support the Prime Minister’s stance on security, saying that in 2024 Trinidad and Tobago recorded 623 murders, with more than 40% gang-related. Padarath said Persad-Bissessar’s reference to a 42% reduction in murders in 2025 highlighted the need for “decisive action.”

Chaguanas West MP and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism Neil Gosine said he gave “full and unwavering support” to the Prime Minister, describing her address as one that defended sovereignty, citizens and national interests. He said regional unity must be rooted in “respect, accountability, and fairness,” and praised her for confronting issues including security threats, illegal migration and political interference.

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo said he stood “firmly and unequivocally” behind what he called a “powerful and principled” statement, describing the address as decisive leadership guided by national interest, democracy and the rule of law.

Caroni East MP and Health Minister Dr Rishad Seecheran said the Prime Minister’s speech reinforced the idea that CARICOM should serve all Caribbean people, not only supporters of parties in government. He also highlighted her declaration that Trinidad and Tobago, as an independent state, would craft its own foreign and security policies, and said her remarks underscored the country’s commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers, in a ministry release, said the Government was “fully aligned” with the Prime Minister’s position, describing her contribution as demonstrating “clarity, leadership, and firm commitment” at a critical moment for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. He said the ministry remained committed to advancing foreign policy based on transparency, cooperation and national and regional prosperity.

In a Facebook post, Government Senator Brian Baig said, “Having listened attentively to the prime minister’s address to Caricom I stand fully and endorse her comments. The Prime Minister shows why she is the leader we need and deserve in Trinidad and Tobago. I am proud to serve as a member of her Government and to work under her leadership in advancing the best interests of our people and our nation.”