Home  News Regional News Caribbean states approve EPA
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Caribbean states approve EPA |
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Sunday, 19 October 2008 |
BRIDGETOWN - With much pomp and ceremony, 13 Caribbean states on Wednesday took a bold step forward in cementing their future trade with Europe, leaving Guyana and Haiti alone to further contemplate their participation in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states were notably absent from the official EPA signing which took place at the Sherbourne Centre, just outside the capital, between officials of the European Commission and CARIFORUM -- the grouping that links CARICOM to the Dominican Republic.
However, the Bharrat Jagdeo administration in Guyana, which had long criticised the agreement in its present form, sent word to Bridgetown of its intention to finalise the trade deal by the end of October.
Officials also said that Haiti - which recently installed a new government and has been grappling with the impact of recent natural disasters - also intends to sign the EPA before the October 31 deadline expires.
Among those finalising the agreement were hosts Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with the Dominican Republic.
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