The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has agreed to refer a dispute over the reappointment of Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) after Trinidad and Tobago maintained its objection to the process used to extend her tenure.

In a statement issued Tuesday following the Retreat of Heads of Government of Caricom on July 6, the regional bloc said it would initiate proceedings before the CCJ to seek an advisory opinion on the matter.

Caricom said it was responding to Trinidad and Tobago’s request for the court to interpret the relevant treaty provisions governing the reappointment process, noting that providing treaty interpretation was among the reasons the CCJ was established.