Mottley holds talks in Caracas as Caricom hires counsel over secretary-general dispute
Jamaica's opposition also presses the government for details of a new Status of Forces Agreement signed with the United States.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has visited Venezuela for bilateral talks with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas.
Mottley said the discussions focused on the interests of both peoples and opportunities for closer cooperation, covering energy and Petrocaribe, trade, education, clean energy technology, food production and tourism.
"The work we have agreed can strengthen Barbados' energy and food security, create new openings for our farmers, fishers and businesses, build stronger tourism and trade links, and improve the movement of goods," Mottley said.
She said the agreements "must be felt at home in the choices our young people have, the markets our producers can reach and the greater security of every Barbadian family."
Caricom secretary-general row
Caricom has hired a regional law firm to respond to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's challenge to the reappointment of Secretary-General Carla Barnett.
Caricom chairman and St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre said a recent meeting with Persad-Bissessar in Trinidad was cordial. He said Trinidad and Tobago wanted an advisory opinion from the Caribbean Court of Justice on the appointment.
Pierre said Trinidad and Tobago had finalised its position and Caricom would review it through external counsel, adding that the secretary-general and Caricom's own counsel had excused themselves from the process.
"Caricom has employed external counsel so we want to ensure that the whole process is transparent," he said.
Jamaica security pact questioned
Jamaica's opposition People's National Party (PNP) is pressing the government for details of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed with the United States.
The agreement, signed on August 20 after talks between US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Jamaica's National Security Minister Horace Chang, sets conditions for US military personnel operating in Jamaica during training and joint operations.
PNP national security spokesman Fitz Jackson said he has formally asked Chang for a full briefing, saying the deal raises important national security concerns. He said the party would respect parliamentary confidentiality but was still awaiting a response.
Washington and Kingston said the agreement shows their commitment to cooperation against organised crime, including gun, drug and human trafficking, and sets a framework for collaboration on regional security, defence and disaster response.
