Caribbean economies will collapse

Published: Wednesday June 11, 2008

President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (Fitun), David Abdullah, has predicted the total collapse of several Caribbean economies if Caricom governments proceed with the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Abdullah made the statement during a press conference held at the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Paramount Headquarters at Circular Road, San Fernando.

Abdullah said that Fitun has joined forces with several bodies including the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), Oxfam and Christian Aid, in a desperate bid to urge the Caribbean governments to renegotiate the agreement.

Abdullah said already several Caribbean politicians including Guyanese President Bharat Jagdeo have raised concerns over the repercussions of the EPA.

“We will wipe out domestic production and we will become completely dependent on these European countries for food, if this agreement is finalised,” Abdullah said. He added that although the EPA allowed duty free export of Caribbean goods to Europe, this already existed in old trade agreements. He predicted that Caribbean manufacturers will be unable to compete in the international market.

He added that the Caribbean had been allowed in the past to trade duty free on the European market but had been unable to do so.

He said the agreement was being signed with little thought for the Caribbean development.

“Up until now we have not had information on the impact of liberalisation of trade, nor have we received a schedule of the goods that will be liberalised on the market,” Abdullah said. He said that tariff barriers on the European market will restrict Caribbean manufacturers from gaining entry into the European market.

Saying the EPA was vague and offered little benefit to the Caribbean, Abdullah said that Fitun, CPDC, Oxfam and Christian Aid groups hoped to persuade Government to renegotiate the EPA before July.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions (Fitun) and a number of local and civil organisations plan to stage a picket demonstration opposite the Prime Minister’s Office at White Hall, Queen’s Park West, St Clair, at 8:30 am tomorrow.

The picket is intended to co-incide with the usual Thursday morning Cabinet meeting and is part of their opposition to the Economic Partnerhip Agreement (EPA) reached between the European Union and Cariforum (Caricom and the Dominican Republic).

Fitun president David Abdullah said that from Whitehall, the picket will move to the offices of the European Delegation to T&T at Queen’s Park West.

Abdullah said the action is intended to encourage Caricom governments to review and renegotiate the agreement.

As part of the campaign, Abdullah said an important regional civil society workshop and rally will open at 7:30 pm tomorrow at the Institute of International Relations, UWI, St Augustine.

Professor Norman Girvan will deliver the feature address and solidarity messages will be delivered by a number of regional and international organisations.


Source: Trinidad Guardian Newspapers
http://www.guardian.co.tt/business2.html