Saint Lucia's Pierre Inherits the CARICOM Chair on July 1 — and the Mess That Comes With It

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

On July 1, Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre takes over the rotating chairmanship of CARICOM. He inherits the most fractured regional bloc in a generation.

The handover has been pre-loaded by the public collapse of relations between Trinidad and Tobago and the existing chair, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, over the reappointment of Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett. PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told the world her government will not recognise Barnett past August. Drew has produced a six-page timeline of correspondence arguing T&T was duly notified at every stage. Each side believes the documentary record exonerates them. Neither side appears prepared to back down.

Chairmanship on The Tradewinds Brief

Saint Lucia's Pierre Inherits the CARICOM Chair on July 1 — and the Mess That Comes With It