Dear Editor,
I would like to chide my colleagues at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) for the sloppy work they submitted for publication in the June 5 edition of the Stabroek Business titled ‘The Current status of Guyana’s Trade Agreements, including Free Trade Agreement.’

It is easy to gather from the tone and content of the article that it was written some time ago and does not account for developments that have occurred since. For example, the article states that, “Caricom has commenced FTA negotiations with the US. However, FTA negotiations with Canada have not yet begun.” This assertion is so divorced from reality that I’m not sure anyone (including your editor) took the time to examine the contents of the essay. Exploratory discussions, consultations, and negotiations have already begun between Caricom and Canadian officials (including private sector involvement from both countries) on the scope and content of the FTA agreement from as far back as the latter half of 2007. As for the US, the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) is still in play and no substantial trade talks have been initiated between the region and the US about a replacement.

Another example that pointed to the article’s dated stance was the assertion that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) “was about to be signed.” No elaboration from me is necessary in this regard.

That aside, I’m not convinced that the content of the article aligned with its title. While, laying out the case for trade agreements between Caricom and other countries and regions, the column did not state any of the many bilateral agreements that Guyana (individually) has with other trading partners.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Urling