In a message to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as he departed his chairmanship of the 15-member group, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the importance of maintaining the community’s commitment to the Caribbean as a “zone of peace.” In statement reported by the Jamaica Gleaner on Dec. 29, Holness said that this concept is based on respect for international law, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.
Holness’ remarks come as tensions within the bloc have increased, against the backdrop of the U.S. Trump administration’s huge naval and military deployment in the region targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Kamla Persed-Bissessar has publicly backed the U.S. anti-Venezuela offensive, including the deployment of U.S. military equipment and personnel in her country, exacerbating tensions with other member states that maintain that the Caribbean region cannot be used as a base for foreign military aggression.
