Guyana to sign EPA

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo said it now appears likely that the country will sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe.



The Guyanese leader, who had earlier laid down two pre-conditions for signing, said he had so far managed to get Europe to agree to a provision for mandatory review of the trade accord every five years.



With the inclusion of the review clause, Jagdeo argued that members of the CARIFORUM grouping, which includes the 15-member CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, are now in a better position to assess the socio-economic impact of the EPA on their countries.



The Guyanese leader has also been demanding that the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (the CARICOM Treaty) must take precedence over the EPA, in cases where conflict arises.



However, this position has not found favour with the Europeans.



The EPA is to be signed tomorrow in Barbados.