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Carifesta before any EPA discussion–Jagdeo

Aug 13, 2008 News

Guyana has scheduled public consultations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for after the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), which ends just two days before the scheduled September 2 signing of the trade deal.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has publicly expressed reservations about the new trade deal that was negotiated between CARIFORUM – the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic, saying that it could be detrimental to CARIFORUM countries and would allow for more benefits to go to Europe rather than to poor developing countries.

He said the country would undertake discussions with members of the public before making a final decision.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, had said previously that the consultations would have been held by the end of July, but he has indicated it won’t happen until next month at the earliest – after the conclusion of the August 22-31 CARIFESTA.

He said the fact that it would happen so close to the deadline for the EPA was no concern of Guyana’s.
Dr Luncheon said government is more committed to the consultations with Guyanese on the trade deal which it considers to be flawed, than on placing its signature on the agreement.

Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, Henry Gill, has already made it clear that renegotiation of the new trade deal is not an option.

He suggested that it would be best for all CARICOM countries to sign the deal at this stage and expressed the belief that they would do so, including Guyana.

Meantime, the Cabinet Secretary has reported that all was on track for the region’s premier arts festival.

Recently, Culture Minister Frank Anthony said that Guyana has put measures in place to ensure adequate security of the thousands who will come to the country.

“We have a very special committee that has been put in place and we have been working with private security, the police force and the army to put special security measures in place for CARIFESTA,” he said.
The Guyana Government is spending $500 million (US$2.4 million) on hosting the festival.

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