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One day before the official opening of the 30th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, Caribbean leaders who are already in Guyana, including Prime Ministers David Thompson of Barbados, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, joined President Bharrat Jagdeo at the CARICOM Secretariat for the 20th meeting of the Prime Ministerial sub-committee on external trade negotiations.
Included on the agenda was the discussion of matters relating to the incorporation of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) into the CARICOM Secretariat as a specialized department.
 President Bharrat Jagdeo and Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett arrive at the International Conference Centre. | |
Earlier this year, the President had chided the CRNM for being in a crisis-of-governance situation for over three years with no apparent intention at some levels to do anything about it.
He was adamant that it has failed to negotiate a proper deal with Europe on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). He also criticised the mechanism for its lack of representation for Guyana during trade talks with Canada.
President Jagdeo’s criticisms of the CRNM was echoed by Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica who indicated that it will always be at a stand-still until it finds itself in a proper place in the regional governance structures.
His suggestion was that the CRNM, apart from determining the negotiators and the representatives that will report to the regional structures, report to the CARICOM Secretary General.
This suggestion by the Jamaican Prime Minister was approved at the two-day 20th Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM heads in Belize during March 12 to 13, and yesterday’s meeting continued discussions on how to integrate the CRNM into the CARICOM Secretariat organization structure.
Another topic for discussion at the meeting was preparations for the commencement of CARICOM-Canada negotiations for a trade and development agreement, and the appointment of the CARICOM College of Negotiators to conduct the assignment.
In February, Minister of State for the Americas in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, Peter Kent, met President Bharrat Jagdeo to discuss the proposed Canada/CARICOM trade agreement.
Minister Kent, at the time, said he was hopeful for the early commencement of the first level of negotiations for a free trade agreement.
He considers it more than just an economic agreement, but one which facilitates provisions for labour, guarantees for dispute resolutions, environmental and indigenous peoples’ concerns and other benefits for both the countries of CARICOM and Canada.
At the meeting of CARICOM heads, held in Belize, CARICOM leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to the early commencement of negotiations for a Trade and Development Agreement with Canada.
The CARICOM Secretariat, in a press release, noted that leaders in their discussions, approved the CARICOM Negotiating Brief to be used as the basis for the commencement of negotiations of the Agreement, provided that the recommendations constitute initial negotiating mandates which CARICOM may have to re-examine in the context of the continuing global financial and economic situation.
Also discussed were matters related to the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), consideration of the future external trade negotiations agenda of the Caribbean Community, and developments related to the banana industry. (GINA)
