Friday, November 21st, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has warned that “it is only a matter of time before Caricom implodes,” accusing regional leaders of “cavorting around the region and interfering in the affairs and elections of member states,” according to the Jamaica Observer.
Her sharp rebuke came in response to claims by St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who alleged that financiers of Trinidad’s ruling United National Congress (UNC) were bankrolling the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) ahead of the November 27 general elections in Kingstown. Gonsalves told supporters at a Unity Labour Party (ULP) rally that UNC operatives were “on the ground” in St Vincent, motivated by access to lands and economic opportunities.
Persad-Bissessar categorically rejected the allegations, describing them as baseless. “I categorically refute and reject these allegations,” she said, adding that Gonsalves should “account to the people of St Vincent for his 24 years in power and stop deflecting onto the UNC.” She further challenged him to identify the alleged UNC operatives or “stop gaslighting his citizens.”
The Trinidadian leader also pointed to ongoing investigations into how members of Gonsalves’ family acquired three luxury apartments at Victoria Keyes in Diego Martin, Trinidad. She noted that the probe, launched by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), is examining whether fraudulent declarations were made and how one of Gonsalves’ daughters obtained a favourable rent-to-own arrangement just days after Trinidad’s general election.
The controversy has deepened tensions between Port of Spain and Kingstown. Trinidad’s Housing Minister Anil Roberts earlier questioned documents related to the apartment purchases, suggesting the matter be referred to police. HDC chairman Feeroz Khan confirmed that an internal investigation was underway, citing “legitimate questions” about the transactions, which reportedly total nearly TT$5 million.
Gonsalves, himself an attorney, has defended his relatives, insisting they followed proper procedures as Trinidad and Tobago citizens and received no special favours. He has referred the matter to senior counsel in Trinidad.
Persad-Bissessar, however, widened her criticism beyond the dispute, warning that CARICOM’s credibility is at risk if prime ministers continue to meddle in each other’s domestic politics. “The UNC does not participate in that type of deplorable and disreputable conduct. The choice of a leader for St Vincent and the Grenadines is solely for the people of that country,” she said. “If Caribbean prime ministers continue cavorting around the region and interfering in the affairs and elections of member states, it is only a matter of time before Caricom implodes.”
Source: Dominica Online