EPA signing postponed

The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) scheduled for today between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Europe has again been postponed.



The agreement was originally schedule to be signed in June, but was pushed back to July and later postponed to September 2.



Today’s signing has again been pushed back to a date, which is to be announced.



Official sources at the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), which negotiated the agreement on behalf of CARICOM said a tentative new date has been proposed.



However, it said the new date would not be released.



CARICOM’s communications adviser, Leonard Robertson, has confirmed that Caribbean leaders will meet in Barbados on September 10, to discuss and resolve concerns raised by some regional leaders on the EPA.



Regional governments have been divided on the trade deal.



As a result Barbados’ Prime Minister David Thompson requested a CARICOM meeting to deal with the diverging views.



St. Lucia and Guyana are among the countries, which had indicated they would not sign the deal until certain clauses in the agreement are addressed.