Interest of the weak not safe- guarded, says Senator Caesar

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is being represented at the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which opened in Geneva on Monday, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Saboto Caesar.{{more}}

In his address to the Ministerial Conference this morning Caesar highlighted the dissatisfaction of the Windward Island banana producing States with the manner in which the WTO has addressed the banana dispute. He noted, “If we have learned one thing from this banana dispute, it is that the interests of the weak and vulnerable are not always safeguarded by the multilateral system.”

He reiterated the continued commitment of the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the World Trade Organisation, and pointed out the importance of having a fair, balanced, equitable and strong rules-based multilateral trading system that addresses the needs and concerns of all its members. Caesar urged that the system must contribute to sustainable economic growth and development, including poverty reduction and increased standards of living particularly for developing countries; particularly for small vulnerable economies like that of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Caesar concluded by emphasising the urgency for a satisfactory and beneficial conclusion to the Doha Round.

CARICOM countries represented at the Conference similarly urged the WTO to return to the centrality of the Doha agenda, and to make development the overriding objective of the trade negotiations.

The Conference concludes today.

The other member of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines delegation is Clarence Harry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.