Caribbean leaders call emergency summit

Caricom leaders are considering an emergency summit to discuss the reluctance by some member nations to sign a trade and investment agreement with the EU next month.



Caricom secretary general, Edwin Carrington, said that Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has requested that a meeting be convened.



There has been some opposition to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Guyana, Grenada and St. Lucia having announced they would not meet the September 2 signing date.



Mr. Carrington said the summit would most likely be held in Barbados.



Yesterday, the Barbados-based Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) said it welcomed the move by some governments to delay signing the EPA.



Jamaica’s opposition, People’s National Party (PNP), has been calling for the government to hold consultations with various stakeholders before signing the EPA.



The party wants the exclusion of the Most Favoured Nation clause, which would entitle the European countries to receive the trade advantages that any other nation receives.



The PNP said inclusion of that clause could jeopardise South-South cooperation, which has become increasingly relevant to Jamaica and the region in its efforts to respond to changing international conditions.