Sometimes it seems as if officials are engaged in a game that involves having those they are most meant to help, guess about their intentions.

Last week a meeting of the EU-Cariforum Trade and Development Committee (TDC) took place in Barbados. This is the second highest body of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) – the free trade agreement signed between the Caribbean and Europe in October 2008 – and the institution that is meant to address the detail of the implementation of the provisions of the arrangement. As such the Trade and Development Commit-tee brings together senior officials from both regions to resolve difficulties, advise ministers on the outcome or,…..