EPA signing on target

The Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Henry Gill, said the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) must take place as scheduled in order for the countries involved to fully benefit from the deal.



The EPA was initialled last December between Europe and CARIFORUM countries.



The signing of the agreement, which was first scheduled for January, was delayed several times after calls were made for it to be renegotiated.



There were also requests from several countries for public consultations on the matter.



Following a CARICOM Heads of Government conference last week, the decision was taken that the signing take place on October 31.



Mr. Gill said it is critical that the agreement be finalised next month.



He said once the EPA is signed Jamaica and other CARIFORUM countries will be legally covered to export to Europe.



All CARIFORUM countries with the exception of Guyana have reportedly agreed to sign on to the deal.