CCC raises concerns about EPA

The Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) has written to Caricom voicing its concern about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and reiterated its call for the Heads of Government of CARICOM to consider the long-term good and welfare of the people of the region.{{more}}

In a September 8, 2008, letter to current Caricom Chairman Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer, General Secretary of the CCC Gerard A. J. Granado expressed his concern about the “potentially detrimental impact on the wider Caribbean citizenry, particularly the most vulnerable, of the conclusion of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in its current form.

“As the date approaches for the special meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM on the EPA, we wish once more to express our hope that due consideration will be given to the several issues of concern that have been raised throughout the region, and especially those raised by our distinguished academics and practitioners, notably Sir Shridath Ramphal and Professors Havelock Brewster, Norman Girvan, Vaughn Lewis and Clive Thomas. In our view, it simply cannot be the case that, in a matter as crucial as the one at hand, such voices will not be afforded the hearing that befits them.’

Granado said that the CCC also welcomes the outcome of the consultations on the EPA held in Guyana on September 5, 2008, and shares the view that the position taken by President Bharrat Jagdeo to sign an agreement confined at this time to ‘goods only’, serves as an example of what is possible in the circumstances. “We want to commend this intelligent and courageous stance. It is our hope that it will be supported at the upcoming meeting of Heads of Government and that every effort will be made to obtain consensus with respect to collective action on the way forward.

“While it has been asserted that failure to conclude the agreement within the timeframe dictated by the E.C. would threaten Caribbean exports to Europe, we feel that our leaders should not be constrained to pursue a course of action which could prove to be adverse to our people in the long run.”