EPA - Barbados to benefit

The Barbados government said there is broad consensus on the island that it stands to benefit from signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that the region has negotiated with the European Union.



The EPA is to be signed on September 2 by CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic.



Guyana is reportedly reluctant to sign the agreement, and labour groups and civil society organisations have also been critical of the arrangement.



Barbados\' foreign affairs and international trade minister, Chris Sinckler, said intensive consultations had concluded that signing on to the new trade and investment pact is in the country’s best interest.