JULY 23, 2008 – THE PROPSED DATE FOR THE SIGNING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CARIFORUM ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT!!!
July 3, 2008
EDWARD HARRIS AT LARGE!
JULY 23, 2008 – THE PROPSED DATE FOR THE SIGNING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CARIFORUM ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT!!!
Several agencies involved in the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations are busy discussing the pros and cons of the proposed agreement scheduled to be signed by Heads of Government in the Cariforum region on Wednesday, 23rd July, 2008. Many express doubt as to whether this will be possible as dissenting voices are being echoed by Governments across the region. CARIFORUM members include: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
President Jagdeo of Guyana is in the forefront of making public pronouncements as to his Government’s displeasure with the agreement and in recent days Hon. Rufus Bousquet, Minister for Trade, Industry, Commerce, Consumer Affairs & Investment in Saint Lucia has also gone public to express concerns. It is interesting to note that while the dissenting voices are getting louder, Hon. Christopher Sinckler, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business of Barbados is yet to make a definitive statement on his Government’s position that is carried by the region’s media. Minister Sinckler is well known throughout the region for his work with the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) on behalf of NGOs in general and for his outspoken position against the EPA prior to his appointment as a Minister, joining in protest meetings and demonstrations in the region and beyond. The Heads of Government can do with some guidance from Hon. Christopher Sinckler.
Two meetings were hosted in St. Lucia during the past week on the EPA, interestingly one was sponsored by the CPDC in collaboration with Christian Aid. The technocrats have been at pains to explain the several aspects of the proposed agreement since the initial agreement by Heads to proceed with the EPA as negotiated late last year.
St. Lucia is currently being the preferred destination for meetings and workshops in the OECS and it is noted that most of them run from two to four days. The demand to share information among stakeholders is growing and the agencies charged with various aspects of development within the region are busy at this time. It is definitely a race against time as on the one hand it’s the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the EPA on the other.
It is great news for the region as the CSME Development Fund was finally launched by Heads of Government in Antigua on July 1, 2008. The original size of the Fund was set at US$250,000,000.00 but was launched with US$60,000,000.00. At least it is a step in the right direction. Mr. Patrick Joseph, a past President of the St. Lucia Industrial and Small Business Association (SLISBA) should be pleased with the announcement as he kept reminding the Leaders of their promise to implement the Fund.
Hon. Stephenson King is back in the country after a trip to the Republic of China on Taiwan and things are quiet on the front line of Government. In the meantime, the Government of Taiwan will be collaborating with the Government of Saint Lucia to mount an Exhibition of Taiwanese goods and services in Saint Lucia in October, 2008. Relationship between the two nations is progressing and there seems to be no shift in policy in relation to Saint Lucia under the new administration in Taiwan.
The greatest challenge to the Government and people of Saint Lucia is the rising cost of living. With the cost of oil continuing to rise with no end in sight, it is time for serious adjustments at all levels of society. Something will have to be done to arrest the situation.
The tourism sector is being challenged by contraction in the airline industry and the high cost of air travel. There has to be new approaches to the old problem of airlifts. Just when the future looked good, the oil crisis came along to rob us of the economic growth we anticipated.
Life goes on and there is need to be strong. Lifestyle changes are definitely on the cards. It is some conciliation in all that is going on in the world today that we realise that THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Miracles all the time!!!
Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Author, Business & PR Consultant, Realtor, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Networker, Private Sector Advocate, Motivational Speaker
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.Edwardharris.ws http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.stluciarealtors.com http://EdwardHarris.myvisalus.com