THE first woman Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been appointed and congratulations were issued from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Chairman of CARICOM as well as Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Dr Carla Natalie Barnett was unanimously appointed as the 8th CARICOM Secretary-General on Tuesday during a CARICOM meeting virtually in Special Session.
Dr Rowley issued the official statement on Tuesday.
Dr Barnett, a national of Belize, is the first woman and the first Belizean to be selected for the post. She will replace Ambassador Irwin LaRocque who is completing his second term and will assume office on August 15 2021.
Dr Rowley stated, “ Heads of Government in congratulating Dr Barnett on her selection, recognised the historic moment for the Community.”
A former Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr Barnett was formerly vice president of the Belize Senate and has served in various ministerial capacities in her country’s government. She has also served as Financial Secretary of Belize and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, as well as Vice-President (Operations) of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Dr Barnett attained her Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona Campus in Jamaica. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the UWI.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said in a statement on Wednesday, “It is noteworthy that the CARICOM Heads of Government unanimously agreed to the appointment, which is a clear expression of their confidence in Dr Barnett. Dr Barnett’s appointment is not only a watershed moment for the organisation, but one which will guarantee the growth of CARICOM, given her track record. The United National Congress wishes Dr Barnett every success in her new role.”
Persad-Bissessar also commended and thanked Dr Barnett’s predecessor Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.
The Opposition Leader added that given the crucial times, CARICOM continues to play a critical role in addressing these challenges.
She said, “CARICOM remains the vehicle by which all our nations can unite in a common purpose to achieve the common goal of sustainable development throughout our region. Over the years, CARICOM has evolved to more than just an organisation, it encapsulates the collective aspirations of the people of the Caribbean, and works towards realising the true potential of our region.”
