USVI urges region not to take rum dispute to WTO

The United States Virgin Islands, the USVI, wants CARICOM governments to abandon plans to take their ongoing rum dispute before the World Trade Organization (WTO).



Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart revealed, earlier this year, that the subsidies given to rum producers in the USVI and Puerto Rico leaves Caribbean rum producers at a disadvantage.



Stuart said then that the situation was so serious that his government was prepared to take the issue to the WTO.



However, it is reported that Governor of the USVI John de Jongh has written to several prime ministers across the region urging them not to pursue this course of action.



He warns that this could lead to a prolonged legal case that would be divisive and difficult to win and could inflict damage on the economies of the region.



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