GEORGETOWN – Differing responses by Caribbean countries to emerging geopolitical developments should not be interpreted as a sign of division within the Caribbean Community, according to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Speaking at the opening of the 50th regular meeting of Caribbean Community heads of government in Saint Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, Holness said diversity in national positions reflects the reality of sovereign democracies navigating an increasingly complex global environment.
Holness argued that countries will naturally assess risks, priorities and geopolitical opportunities differently, and that this should be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness. “The measure of our integration should not be uniformity of position, but effectiveness of cooperation,” he told fellow leaders. He added that differences in national perspectives are often portrayed as fractures threatening the regional project, but insisted they are instead a resource that can be harnessed.
His remarks were welcomed by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who praised what she described as Holness’ balanced approach to foreign policy within CARICOM. She said member states must respect each other’s sovereign right to determine their own national security and foreign policy choices, while sharing the same ultimate goal of improving quality of life across the region.
The discussion comes amid ongoing concerns about CARICOM’s varied responses to political and economic crises in Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba, as well as differing views on the role of the United States in regional security. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with CARICOM leaders on Wednesday.
Persad-Bissessar, who has previously criticized the concept of the Caribbean as a “zone of peace,” reiterated Trinidad and Tobago’s support for U.S. military action against drug trafficking networks. She said her country has faced severe security challenges, including gang violence driven by narcotics and weapons smuggled from Venezuela, and credited cooperation with the United States for a significant reduction in murders last year. While reaffirming her country’s commitment to CARICOM, she voiced frustration with what she described as insufficient collective responses to regional security threats.
On Cuba, Persad-Bissessar acknowledged the humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions, including fuel shortages, but stressed that political reform is necessary. She said Trinidad and Tobago would not support dictatorships and questioned why Cuban citizens are denied free and fair elections while democratic participation is defended elsewhere in the region.
Holness, for his part, said Jamaica supports constructive dialogue between Cuba and the United States aimed at de-escalation, reform and stability. He argued that sustainable prosperity cannot exist where economic freedom and political participation are constrained, adding that Jamaica remains sensitive to the hardships faced by the Cuban population.
Persad-Bissessar also criticized the practice of political parties in CARICOM countries assisting allies in election campaigns in other member states, warning that it fuels divisions and undermines regional cooperation. On the issue of free movement within CARICOM, she said Trinidad and Tobago supports the principle but cannot implement it immediately due to concerns about illegal migration.
The exchanges underscored a central theme of the summit: that unity within CARICOM does not require identical policies, but rather effective cooperation amid diverse national realities.