Carla Natalie Barnett, PhD, CBE became the eighth Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 15 August 2021.

Dr. Barnett, an economist, has worked across CARICOM for over 30 years. She was the first woman to be appointed as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, and the first woman and youngest person to be appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM. She was also Vice-President, Operations at the Caribbean Development Bank.

As a Consultant, Dr. Barnett has provided advisory services in public sector financial management and strategic planning throughout CARICOM.

As a politician, Dr. Barnett contested the 2015 Belize General Election, and was a Senator and a Minister of State in the Belize Government from 2015-2020.

She is an advocate for gender equality as the right thing to do to create a more stable and equitable society, and as good economic policy. She has been an active Member of the Caribbean Institute of Women in Leadership (CIWiL) Belize Chapter, a President of the Belize YWCA and on the Board of Haven House, a shelter for battered women.

Dr. Barnett has received several awards, including the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for distinguished public service.