Caribbean leaders to decide on EPA

Caribbean leaders are today expected to make known their official position on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and CARIFORUM countries.



The EPA was initialed last November by officials from the EU and CARIFORUM, which includes CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic



CARICOM chairman and Antiguan Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, said the EPA was a major talking point during yesterday’s discussions at the summit of CARICOM heads of government in his country.



The agreement has been severely criticised by academics, non-government organisations and labour leaders, who have called for regional governments to renegotiate the accord.



It has also provoked strong disagreement among CARICOM countries.



Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have expressed a willingness to sign.



Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo said his country would not be forced into signing an agreement that could lead to intra-regional competition and fragmentation.



Mr. Jagdeo contends that the region should do only what is required to make the EPA compatible with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and that it should be a goods only agreement.



Antigua’s Prime Minister is expressing optimism that the agreement will eventually be signed.



Mr. Spencer said the leaders would formulate a full position on the matter today.