In a joint release, several former Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community have appealed for a rollback of military escalation in the region, warning that peace, stability, and development are at risk.
Among the signatories are Saint Lucia’s Kenny Anthony, Antigua and Barbuda’s Baldwin Spencer, Belize’s Said Musa and Dean Barrow, Barbados’ Freundel Stuart, Dominica’s Edison James, Grenada’s Tillman Thomas, Guyana’s Donald Ramotar, and Jamaica’s Bruce Golding and P J Patterson.
“We who have previously served as Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community feel obliged, with the benefit of our experience, to make public our apprehension on the increased military security build up and the presence of nuclear vessels and aircraft within the Caribbean archipelago,” the statement reads. “We are impelled to urge a pull back from military build up to avoid any diminution of peace, stability and development within our regional space that has the potential to pull the region into conflicts which are not of our making.”
The leaders’ statement directly addresses the ongoing escalation between the United States and Venezuela, as in recent weeks, the US has deployed naval assets in Caribbean waters, exercising bombers, and have struck vessels alleged to be trafficking narcotics. The US has also committed around 10 000 troops to operations in the region.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in response, has mobilised forces along the country’s coastline and border, declaring “maximum preparedness” to counter what he describes as a challenge to Venezuelan sovereignty.
In their statement, former Caribbean leaders urged that core principles tied to regional diplomacy not be abandoned, highlighting the following:
- Reaffirming the Caribbean as a zone of peace
- Upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each nation within the Community
- Respecting a global order grounded in international law, where disputes are resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, not force
They emphasise that since achieving independence, Caribbean states have generally avoided hosting external military assets. In that light, the statement alludes to past US requests to station military assets in Caribbean territories.
Rowley backs statement, diverges from Kamla’s position
In a separate address via Facebook, Trinidad and Tobago’s former Prime Minister Keith Rowley added his endorsement of the joint appeal. “I find it necessary and dutiful to sign on to this historic statement…” he said, invoking past regional commitments to unity. Rowley criticised current actions: “I am today embarrassed to accept that with our proud record of leadership and accomplishments, that today, it is Trinidad and Tobago that recklessly subscribes to the dispensing with these principles in the expectation of plenty.”
Rowley’s statement contrasts with that of the current Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She has publicly voiced support for the US deployment in the southeastern Caribbean, framing it as part of the fight against drug cartels. She has insisted that her government has not formally granted US forces access to Trinidad and Tobago for operations against Venezuela, but has left open the possibility of cooperation should Venezuela act against Guyana.
