-questions on future, governance and more
Analysis
WHAT’S THE politics behind the very surprising, if not intriguing, announcement last Thursday that Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, had appointed Edwin Carrington as her country’s ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)?
The 72-year-old Carrington, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, retired as Secretary- General of CARICOM, effective from the end of 2010, having served in that post for some 18 years—the longest in the 38-year history of the regional economic integration movement.
There is no precedent of a former Secretary-General, or a Deputy SG, or even an Assistant Secretary-General being appointed by any member state of the Community as ambassador to CARICOM.
So why has Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar considered it advisable to create such a precedent with Carrington’s ambassadorial appointment, when there continue to linger for resolution some very outstanding, sensitive issues pertaining to the future governance of the 15-member Community, while the ‘search’ continues for a new Secretary-General for the Georgetown-based Secretariat?
Of note, not only was the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister absent (like three other leaders) from last month’s two-day ‘special retreat’ of Heads of Government in Guyana’s Mazaruni region. Most surprisingly, unlike the trio of other absent Heads, she did not consider it necessary for her government to be represented — at ANY level!
There has been no official explanation from either the CARICOM Secretariat or the Trinidad and Tobago Government about this quite strange non-representation occurrence by one of the most significant partners of the Community — particularly in vital areas such as trade, investment and financial services.
Even more surprising than the Prime Minister’s invitation to Carrington to become Trinidad and Tobago’s ambassador to CARICOM was his apparent willingness to serve in that capacity at 72, having been such a high-profile regional public servant for many years in the Secretariats of both the Community and that of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries(ACP).

Committee of Ambassadors
Currently, for example, CARICOM Heads of Government continue to have under active consideration the creation of a Permanent Committee of CARICOM Ambassadors as a mechanism to help in the continuing quest for improved governance of the Community.
At present, this declared initiative has won more political derision than applause. Some observers are speculating on the scenario of Carrington serving on the proposed standing committee of regional ambassadors to help ensure better governance, and arrest the widening implementation deficit on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and having to relate to a new management structure at the Secretariat!
It is not an issue of expertise and experience. Carrington is eminently qualified to serve as an ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago. The pertinent question is why to CARICOM?
As some CARICOM watchers see it, if indeed diplomatic creativity is the name of this political game, then perhaps the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago could have considered other options.
For instance, how advantageous it could prove — not just for her country but the ENTIRE Community — to have Edwin Carrington appointed as ambassador for the ‘Caribbean Diaspora’, given his acquired knowledge and relationships with that expanding community of foreign-based CARICOM nationals, particularly in North America, who continue to make vital financial contributions to our region.
Initial details of the location of such an appointee and relevant facilities could always be worked out by interested governments. If not, T&T could go after it alone, in the creation of such an ambassadorial appointment.
In the meantime, interested citizens across this region, not just journalists, would undoubtedly like to benefit from the justification, the rationale of now having Carrington as T&T’s accredited ambassador to CARICOM,  amid all the uncomplimentary developments affecting its claimed ‘flagship’ project—the CSME—that was officially placed on ‘pause’ at last month’s ‘retreat’ of the Community’s leaders.

Why did he go?
Last week would have marked 10 months since Carrington indicated his retirement as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, to take effect from December 31, 2010.
However, amid continuing speculation about potential candidates, there is no certainty that the Heads of Government would be ready to announce his successor when they meet for their regular annual summit, scheduled for the first week in July in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Carrington, the sixth Secretary-General of the Community, had announced his retirement with some two years still remaining to complete his final term in office. His has been the longest period of service of any Secretary-General.
There have been conflicting reports since his announced retirement that he may have been pushed into going prematurely; or that his decision had resulted from some sharp disagreements which surfaced at last year’s Heads of Government Conference in Jamaica.
Whatever the real reason that prompted Carrington to announce, in August 2010, his retirement while a review of the Secretariat’s administrative structure remains a work believed to be in progress, may perhaps remain a guessing game for some time.
The Heads of Government have since openly praised his services, and decided to award him with CARICOM’s highest honour — Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). He is most likely to ceremonially receive this honour at next month’s annual summit, to be hosted by incoming new chairman, Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.
Both Carrington’s ‘achievements’  and ‘disappointments’ are there for objective assessments. What, however, is relevant at this time is the valid concern of well-meaning and well-placed citizens of our Community over the manner in which the Heads of Government have been approaching the appointment of a new Secretary-General. There seems to be no urgency to have it done.

Too secretive
Even more disappointing, as recognised by the region’s private sector, labour movement and leading civil society organisation, is a seeming reluctance to pursue with any vigour the elusive issue of introducing an effective governance system at the Secretariat, with an executive management council/committee—whoever the Secretary-General may be.
A ‘search committee’ has been at work for months to help identify a shortlist of potential candidates. Rumours abound about the work of the committee and of the aspirants for the job as Secretary-General. No credence should, however, be given to claims of preferences among some Heads of Government, when there remains serious reservations about the calibre of potential choices unofficially making the rounds within CARICOM.
While, on the one hand, there is evidently too much emphasis on secrecy in the quest to have on board a new Secretary-General — the current process is hardly transparent — on the other hand, the foot-dragging over a widely recognised need for a general overhaul of the administrative structure of the Community Secretariat is most frustrating and uncomplimentary.
There is available — as the CARICOM leaders would know — a series of reports on mandated studies pertaining to the need for restructuring of the Secretariat to make it relevant to satisfy the demands of our time. Ideas and recommendations abound in, for example, reports from ‘review teams’ of experts headed by Professor Gladstone Mills (1991) to far-reaching recommendations by the West Indian Commission (1992)’ to that of Dr Patrick Gomes/Leonard Archer (2002); in addition to work done by Professor Vaughn Lewis.
Now, I understand, the Heads of Government are awaiting recommendations from a current ‘review’ team on how the Secretariat should function. This would be part of their agenda for next month’s summit.
As a matter of interest: Will Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar include Carrington, her appointed ‘ambassador to CARICOM’ in her official delegation for next month’s annual Heads of Government Conference in St Kitts?