˜In the EU's eyes, the world was different and the ACP no longer had any place of importance.'

THE ˜Thirteen CARICOM Heads' are now signatories to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM. Guyana expects to ink the document on or before October 31, 2008.

At any rate, the Caribbean region now has an EPA. The EPA has many good points of light, but its deficiencies outweigh the goodies. But how did this EPA become the buzzword in the Caribbean?

Today, I want to speak to this question through abridging some of the pieces I penned over the last few months.

It was in 1996, through its Green Paper, that the European Union (EU) started to send vibes to the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group that its interest in retaining the one-way preferential arrangement had reached the zero point; and through these vibes, the EU demonstrated great proclivity to not only abandon the preferential arrangement implemented through the Lomé Conventions, but to institute in its place the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), conceived through the infamous Green Paper.

The way forward to effect these massive ˜Green Paper' changes became the hallmark of the Cotonou Agreement in 2000, where a good number of poor nations within the ACP group became involuntarily attached to the neo-liberal market model of development; a model that worked unfavourably in the interest of poor nations. And so, the Cotonou Agreement replaced the Lomé Conventions in 2000. Subsequently, we saw the end of an era of preferential access to sugar from 20 ACP countries.

The Lomé Conventions were fine, so long as the ACP could realise the EU's interests; and the European Commissioner, Professor João de Deus Pinheiro in 1996 made it clear that the ACP group was not a priority for the EU any more. And so, following Pinheiro, the EPA is not a mechanism to safeguard our interests, but the interests of the EU.

In the EU's eyes, the world was different and the ACP no longer had any place of importance. However, let's remind ourselves that the ACP was born in 1975 through the Georgetown Agreement when ˜Lomé I' kicked in. And the ACP negotiated with a unified voice whenever there was a review of the Lomé Conventions.

And so, it must have been ominous when the European Union proposed EPA negotiations, not through the usual unified ACP countries, but through different and separate geographical negotiations.

For instance, EPA negotiations were set in motion with West Africa and Central Africa in October 2003, with Eastern and Southern Africa in February 2004, and with the Caribbean in April 2004. And each group was expected to produce its own brand of EPA. The notion here was to demolish the ACP camaraderie.

And so, the expectation with an EPA was that CARIFORUM will get market access for goods and services, and pledges of development support. The EU will get access to CARIFORUM markets for goods and services, and compulsory obligations on CARIFORUM policies in additional areas.

But mounting criticisms of the EU-CARIFORUM EPA continue to be the order of the day. Norman Girvan, Havelock Brewster, and Vaughn Lewis, in a Memorandum titled ˜Problem Areas in the EPA and the case for Content Review' to the Reflections Group, believed that renegotiation was a must as, once the EPA was in force, it would be hard to amend. They cited 19 areas that made the case for renegotiation.

There were other critics of the EPA, such as, The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Sir Shridath Ramphal, OXFAM, hundreds of academics, the Christina Taubira Report of France, including a few CARICOM Heads of State.

And President Bharrat Jagdeo was the only CARICOM Head who incisively exposed the deficiencies of the EPA; this President and Government carried the good fight, not once, but over the life of the EPA negotiations process. And numerous consultations on the EPA took place over the years in Guyana, including issuance of progress reports to the National Assembly.

Some of the Guyana Government's problems with the EPA, among others are: (1) insertion of the ˜Singapore issues'; (2) incorporation of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause; (3) no provision to speak to supply-side inadequacies; (4) the lack of a ˜development' dimension in the Agreement.

However, at one point, the Guyana Government clearly stated that if its concerns still remained unresolved at the official deadline for signing, then it might eventually have to ink the Agreement under duress; as the EU's General System of Preferences (GSP) sanctions would kick in, whereby Guyana' products, especially rice, sugar, rum, and seafood, could be subject to high tariffs, thereby compromising the livelihoods of sugar and other economic producers of Guyana.

But quite recently, President Jagdeo and the Government of Guyana successfully extracted from the European Union's concessions two substantive Clauses. And so, the EPA would now carry two appendicized Clauses as a Declaration, to speak to the deficiencies of the EPA, notwithstanding the inflexibility of the European Commission and minimum cooperation among CARICOM Heads.

Clause # 1: A five-yearly review of the Economic Partnership Agreement to consider the socioeconomic impact on the Caribbean region and an obligation by the European Union to speak to the impact; to uncover which areas of the agreement and/or their implementation may require amendment.

Clause # 2: The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to prevail in cases of conflict with the Economic Partnership Agreement; the notion here is to preserve the Caribbean regional integration process.

And for those who conclude that these Clauses are a face-saving device for this Government, let me say that, indeed, they do not grasp the significance of a five-year review, enabling CARIFORUM to correct any identified deficiency; and also these people may be indifferent toward the sanctity of regional integration.

These two substantive Clauses would provide benefits and protection for the Caribbean region: Sustaining the integrity of the regional integration process, and periodically recognising any harmful impact of the EPA. And so, for these reasons, the two Clauses are definitively substantive, and the Guyanese people must feel a sense of pride that this Government and President extracted these concessions from the EU.

These two substantive Clauses provided a much-needed improvement to the EPA; and most certainly, with better cooperation among CARICOM Heads, we would have wheedled out more concessions from the EU, delivering greater gains to the Caribbean region.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
These two substantive Clauses provided a much-needed improvement to the EPA; and most certainly, with better cooperation among CARICOM Heads, we would have wheedled out more concessions from the EU, delivering greater gains to the Caribbean region.

The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

We won a mandatory review, not a review based on European whims and fancies, but a mandatory review which would take place every five years, and a commitment that would provide for the impact, should it be adverse, to change the EPA and its provisions, were the implementation of the EPA to impact negatively on our people.
Without the clause that Guyana fought for and won, it would have been an agreement without any mandatory review.
The European Union has also agreed to take note of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as it relates to the conflicts with the EPA.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

We won a mandatory review, not a review based on European whims and fancies, but a mandatory review which would take place every five years, and a commitment that would provide for the impact, should it be adverse, to change the EPA and its provisions, were the implementation of the EPA to impact negatively on our people.
Without the clause that Guyana fought for and won, it would have been an agreement without any mandatory review.
The European Union has also agreed to take note of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as it relates to the conflicts with the EPA.

I see you are still selling the snake oil stuff.The true tale is that which you are spinning here and in the newspapers.

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

We won a mandatory review, not a review based on European whims and fancies, but a mandatory review which would take place every five years, and a commitment that would provide for the impact, should it be adverse, to change the EPA and its provisions, were the implementation of the EPA to impact negatively on our people.
Without the clause that Guyana fought for and won, it would have been an agreement without any mandatory review.
The European Union has also agreed to take note of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as it relates to the conflicts with the EPA.

I see you are still selling the snake oil stuff.The true tale is that which you are spinning here and in the newspapers.

Whether its to your liking or not, its a fact, that Guyana was single-handedly able to gain two vital concessions from the EU, on the EPA agreement, much to the benefit of those who are against Guyana's stance.

These two clauses where described as substantial by Sir Shridat Ramphal, hence, your minuscule opinion counts for nothing.

Ireton.........put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Sir Shridath Ramphal sends Congratulatory Message to President Bharrat Jagdeo
(For having had the courage to stand up to the EU on a matter of principle and won out in the end)
Congratulations! Your wise and courageous efforts over the EPA have been vindicated. The amendment of the EPA has come out well for the Caribbean and could have been even better had the rest of CARICOM shown some mettle. History will record, and the ACP will remember, that Guyana made a brave and noble stand when the Caribbean collapsed before a European negotiating offensive.

You have prevented October 15 being remembered as a ˜day of shame' in the Region. I am glad that your media statement today serves notice of the struggles ahead; struggles in which I do not believe you will be as lonely as you have been so far.

The silent majority in the Caribbean, who have been with you throughout, will become more assertive; and Europe will discover that this was not the ˜victory' they believed it was. Well before the first ˜mandatory' review, a new EPA will emerge in a new time. You will have helped to shape the new ˜partnership', and the new time is surely already at hand.

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Guyan-6760

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

We won a mandatory review, not a review based on European whims and fancies, but a mandatory review which would take place every five years, and a commitment that would provide for the impact, should it be adverse, to change the EPA and its provisions, were the implementation of the EPA to impact negatively on our people.
Without the clause that Guyana fought for and won, it would have been an agreement without any mandatory review.
The European Union has also agreed to take note of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as it relates to the conflicts with the EPA.

I see you are still selling the snake oil stuff.The true tale is that which you are spinning here and in the newspapers.

Whether its to your liking or not, its a fact, that Guyana was single-handedly able to gain two vital concessions from the EU, on the EPA agreement, much to the benefit of those who are against Guyana's stance.

These two clauses where described as substantial by Sir Shridat Ramphal, hence, your minuscule opinion counts for nothing.

I think that is what the other Caricom leaders of Jagdeo's prevarications.It only becomes substantial if and when he has the force of law/agreement and not some declaratory preamble to a communique.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
Ireton.........put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Sir Shridath Ramphal sends Congratulatory Message to President Bharrat Jagdeo
(For having had the courage to stand up to the EU on a matter of principle and won out in the end)
Congratulations! Your wise and courageous efforts over the EPA have been vindicated. The amendment of the EPA has come out well for the Caribbean and could have been even better had the rest of CARICOM shown some mettle. History will record, and the ACP will remember, that Guyana made a brave and noble stand when the Caribbean collapsed before a European negotiating offensive.

You have prevented October 15 being remembered as a ˜day of shame' in the Region. I am glad that your media statement today serves notice of the struggles ahead; struggles in which I do not believe you will be as lonely as you have been so far.

The silent majority in the Caribbean, who have been with you throughout, will become more assertive; and Europe will discover that this was not the ˜victory' they believed it was. Well before the first ˜mandatory' review, a new EPA will emerge in a new time. You will have helped to shape the new ˜partnership', and the new time is surely already at hand.

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Guyan-6760

Lol,come on,none of the above changes the reality of the just concluded agreement, so stop blowing smoke.
Your self-congratulations remind me of a line from Julius Caesar, ".... what victories,what triumps bring thee home"?

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
Ireton.........put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Sir Shridath Ramphal sends Congratulatory Message to President Bharrat Jagdeo
(For having had the courage to stand up to the EU on a matter of principle and won out in the end)
Congratulations! Your wise and courageous efforts over the EPA have been vindicated. The amendment of the EPA has come out well for the Caribbean and could have been even better had the rest of CARICOM shown some mettle. History will record, and the ACP will remember, that Guyana made a brave and noble stand when the Caribbean collapsed before a European negotiating offensive.

You have prevented October 15 being remembered as a ˜day of shame' in the Region. I am glad that your media statement today serves notice of the struggles ahead; struggles in which I do not believe you will be as lonely as you have been so far.

The silent majority in the Caribbean, who have been with you throughout, will become more assertive; and Europe will discover that this was not the ˜victory' they believed it was. Well before the first ˜mandatory' review, a new EPA will emerge in a new time. You will have helped to shape the new ˜partnership', and the new time is surely already at hand.

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Guyan-6760

Lol,come on,none of the above changes the reality of the just concluded agreement, so stop blowing smoke.
Your self-congratulations remind me of a line from Julius Caesar, ".... what victories,what triumps bring thee home"?

It does, really. First there was no review and we would have had to be the one coping with whatever the EU gives to us regardless if it assists us or not. Now, after every 5 yrs we are going to have a review of all the mishaps of the agreement and see ways in strengthening them.

quote:

Originally posted by The Terminator:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
Ireton.........put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Sir Shridath Ramphal sends Congratulatory Message to President Bharrat Jagdeo
(For having had the courage to stand up to the EU on a matter of principle and won out in the end)
Congratulations! Your wise and courageous efforts over the EPA have been vindicated. The amendment of the EPA has come out well for the Caribbean and could have been even better had the rest of CARICOM shown some mettle. History will record, and the ACP will remember, that Guyana made a brave and noble stand when the Caribbean collapsed before a European negotiating offensive.

You have prevented October 15 being remembered as a ˜day of shame' in the Region. I am glad that your media statement today serves notice of the struggles ahead; struggles in which I do not believe you will be as lonely as you have been so far.

The silent majority in the Caribbean, who have been with you throughout, will become more assertive; and Europe will discover that this was not the ˜victory' they believed it was. Well before the first ˜mandatory' review, a new EPA will emerge in a new time. You will have helped to shape the new ˜partnership', and the new time is surely already at hand.

http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-Guyan-6760

Lol,come on,none of the above changes the reality of the just concluded agreement, so stop blowing smoke.
Your self-congratulations remind me of a line from Julius Caesar, ".... what victories,what triumps bring thee home"?

It does, really. First there was no review and we would have had to be the one coping with whatever the EU gives to us regardless if it assists us or not. Now, after every 5 yrs we are going to have a review of all the mishaps of the agreement and see ways in strengthening them.

The process does allow for a review.Let PI Gomes explain to you guys how the process works.

quote:

It does, really. First there was no review and we would have had to be the one coping with whatever the EU gives to us regardless if it assists us or not. Now, after every 5 yrs we are going to have a review of all the mishaps of the agreement and see ways in strengthening them.

Both parties can also agree to bring an end to the agreement .That is enshrined in the agreement.

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:
The process does allow for a review.Let PI Gomes explain to you guys how the process works.

For now Ireton, as Guyana prepares to add its signature to those of last Wednesday's 13 at the Sherbourne Conference Centre in Barbados -- with Haiti's to come much later -- the question of immediate relevance is:

How prepared are the 15 CARIFORUM countries (CARICOM's 14 and the Dominican Republic) for what may well prove more challenging than what took more than four years to negotiate -- the implementation process of this new historic relationship being forged with Europe?

Barbados' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business, Chris Sinckler -- once a leading opponent of the EPA when he served as Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) -- may well have reflected a widely shared sentiment when he noted in his feature address at the EPA signing ceremony:

"This is a highly complex and comprehensive agreement (250 Articles covering some 2,000 pages), and the effort needed to implement it will be at times more onerous than that spent negotiating it..."

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
These two substantive Clauses provided a much-needed improvement to the EPA; and most certainly, with better cooperation among CARICOM Heads, we would have wheedled out more concessions from the EU, delivering greater gains to the Caribbean region.

The biggest beneficiary of CSME will be TRinidad yet they seemed not to care. Biggest because they have the most highly developed manufacturing base, and the financial sector to back it up.


Without defining specific parameters that will define "hardship" on what basis will the EU relax certain provisions of the EPA that after 4 years of negotiations they will not. Certainly not reciprocity or the service sector issue. Not with the upcoming hardships that we can forsee within the next 5 years arising from huge financial meltdown related expenditures and the budgetary (and potentially inflationary) pressures that will result.

The EU cares nothing about the ACP. Thats the most honets statement that can be made and its about time people like Jagdeo learn this. They days of stirring guilty consciences because of "colonialism" are long gone as most of EU never was involved in this form of exploitation.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
The EU is only out to rob the region and caricom heads are not that bright to see it..

We won a mandatory review, not a review based on European whims and fancies,.

And can we expect Guyana to wage war on the EU if the EU decides that there are no negavtive impacts. Or refuse to ship sugar or rum?

The agreement hasnt even defined specific benchmarks to determine how these will be determined.

You ought to get a hold of yourself. Read the initial post again. The EU is no longer interested in the ACP nations.

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:
Lol,come on,none of the above changes the reality of the just concluded agreement, so stop blowing smoke.
Your self-congratulations remind me of a line from Julius Caesar, ".... what victories,what triumps bring thee home"?

You know when a child has a tantrum and makes a lot of noise. You offer a meaningless thing like a smll sweet to kepp it quiet. Nothing that matters or will have any long term benefit.

This is what the to clauses mean for the EPA. Meaningless because there are no sepcific parameters that will form a basis for review. Just an intent to review. THe EU knows full well that once the agreement is signed it will quickly retaliate against any country whcih tries to drop out if they feel that the EU didnt re negotiate.


I really wonder if Jagdeo knows that President Obama/McCain will not be any more kind when the CBI review come sup shortly. One only nee dlok at the current agreements being negotiated with Latin Am countries to see what caricom can expect. Reciprocity inclusive of services. And MFN.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ4321:
˜In the EU's eyes, the world was different and the ACP no longer had any place of importance.'

.

Given this mood with regards to the EU, Canada and the USA Jagdeo lives in the moon if he expects the old days of non reciprocal trade arrangements. Not when thes ecountries are being whipped by the new emerging nations.

Caricom needs to take a look at the Dominican epublic which has had to survive with no preferential access for its exports beyond CBI, this having been fully eroded by NAFTA. They have developed highly competitive agricultural and industrial sectors as any examination of where some suits are made or the origin of tropical foods sold in NYC will indicate.

Jamaica and Trinidad understand this and have ransitioned their economies from dependence on preferential access under a neo colonial regime? Why cant Guyana? What is Guyana doing to make this transition? Why does Guyana believe that a trading arrangement developed 35 years ago to protect British companies will still be supported now that these companies have move don?