Farmers, social activists march and rally to focus on the EPA

FARMERS AND social activists from the Windward Islands, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are expected to converge on St. Vincent this weekend for a big march and rally focused on the trade negotiations between the Caribbean and the European Partnership Agreement (EPA).{{more}}

Negotiators from both sides are committed to completing the negotiations by the end of 2007 but there are mounting concerns in the Caribbean about the implications of the EPA and its effects on agriculture in the region. Banana farmers in particular note the failure of the EPA negotiations to address their needs and to safeguard their access to the market on favourable terms.

To this end, the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) in conjunction with the Barbados-based Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and OXFAM, will on Sunday June 3, 2007 stage a massive march and rally at the Mt Bentick Bay Road beginning at 3:00 p.m. Over 200 St. Lucian farmers are expected to arrive in St. Vincent on Sunday morning by chartered boat and there will be smaller contingents from Dominica and Grenada.

The rally is expected to be addressed by two Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves as well as farmers representatives.