People’s National Party (PNP) Shadow Minister of Foreign, Regional and Diaspora Affairs, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his capacity as chairman of Caricom, to consult member states to forge a unified regional response to reports of US military strikes against vessels in Caribbean waters.
Expressing grave concern about the strikes which have resulted in the death of dozens, including two Trinidadians and the detention by the US Army of two others of undisclosed nationality, she warned that these actions threaten the sovereignty of the region and the security of its people.
“The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has long promoted the vision of this region as a Zone of Peace,” said.
“That principle is not symbolic. It is a binding commitment to peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty, and strict adherence to international law. The reported use of armed drones and lethal force in our waters without transparency or judicial process represents a direct threat to that commitment,” the Opposition senator added.
Scott-Mottley noted that fisherfolk and coastal communities across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean are now deeply unsettled, with many expressing fear that they could be misidentified or caught in the crossfire of military operations.
“Our people are entitled to pursue their livelihoods free from the shadow of militarisation,” she said, adding “These waters sustain life and commerce; they are not to be transformed into a theatre of war. We cannot remain silent in the face of actions that compromise sovereignty, human rights, and the rule of law.”
Noting that Caricom has always chosen diplomacy and cooperation over force, Scott-Mottley emphasised that the region’s tradition of non-alignment and peaceful dispute resolution is one of its greatest strengths.
She called on Holness to safeguard that legacy by meeting with the regional leaders to consider priorities, including clear reaffirmation by all Caricom member states of the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and full respect for international legal norms, including the right to life, due process, and the sovereignty of states.
“The Caribbean cannot afford to normalise extrajudicial actions in its waters,” Scott-Mottley concluded. “As a region, we must stand together to ensure the principles of peace, sovereignty, and international law continue to guide our future.”