– Luncheon
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon says public consultations on the Caricom/Cariforum/European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was initialed in December last year is likely to start by month-end.
Speaking at his post-Cabinet press briefing last Thursday, he disclosed that Cabinet had agreed to invite a panel of regional personalities, particularly developmental economists and academics who have pronounced publicly on the issue to lend their voices to the process, the Government Information Agency (GINA) stated in a press release.
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at the recently concluded Caricom Heads of Government conference in Antigua had reiterated his position that Guyana will not sign the EPA until there has been a full national consultation.
GINA said that Jagdeo had long before expressed his dissatisfaction with the agreement and the short time frame, which the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries were given to sign the agreement as he felt there was a strong argument for preferential treatment for the region.
Asked what would be achieved through the consultation process, Luncheon said it will “advise Guyanese thoroughly and make it quite clear that to the best of our [government’s] knowledge and understanding, with the support of academics and development economists, this is what the agreement is all about, so when the decision is made it will be an informed decision.”
The EPA is aimed at making the trading relationships between Caricom/Cariforum and the European Union, World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatible as per the Cotonou agreement, GINA added.
