By the Caribbean Journal staff

The continued persistence of public tensions between the Governor and Chief Minister of Anguilla has caused “grave concern” to the CARICOM Heads of Government, according to a statement released following their meeting in Paramaribo.

The Heads of Government “expressed their grave concern at the continuing deterioration in the governance arrangements in Anguilla and expressed the firm view that, at all times, the best interests of the people of Anguilla must be paramount, including due respect for the duly-elected government,” the statement read.

The Caribbean’s leaders called for Anguilla’s leadership to “safeguard public confidence in political leadership through constructive and objective discourse and reiterated the Caribbean Community’s readiness to contribute to an abatement of the ongoing tensions.”

CARICOM will accordingly send a delegation of Heads of Government to Anguilla, having accepted an invitation from Anguilla’s Chief Minister.