President Jagdeo takes another jab at CRNM

Mar 11, 2009 News

By Tusika Martin
The Caricom Regional Negotiating Mechanism (CRNM) operates in a ‘loose’ fashion, unwilling to listen to independent technical advice, President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday.
During a press conference hosted at the Office of the President, the Head of State took another jab at the group saying that is too ‘circular and narrow minded’ in their outlook.
President Jagdeo said that during the upcoming Heads of Government meeting in Belize, he intends to deal with the issue of the CRNM, pointing out that he will also be ensuing that the region’s best interests are safeguarded.
“My view is that the Regional Negotiating Machinery is right now not catered for by our Treaty…it’s a creation of the Heads of Government and often because it was created by the Heads of Government…I think we never had them soundly and technically scrutinized.”
He added that this group never involves the Caricom Secretariat in its decisions.
President Jagdeo said that future regional negotiations should be done by the Secretariat, of which the CRNM can be a department.
“The RNM could easily become a department in the secretariat and then would have to operate through the Secretary General to the Ministers and then to the Heads of Governments.”
The President explained that at present the CRNM has direct access to the Heads of Governments and “frankly speaking many heads do not have the time to read; they just bless things.”
Many times, President Jagdeo said, issues are raised but because people do not read enough and in some instances do not read all the issues, the technical level persons get a ‘free pass’ and ‘they get to do some of the things they want to do’, which according to the President may not be in the best interest of the region.
“I think a lot of that happened in the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement…in Guyana’s case I am going to ensure that this does not happen in the future.”
On January 13 last, President Jagdeo said that he is adamant that the CRNM cannot speak for Guyana at upcoming trade talks with Canada.
The President had been very critical of the CRNM during the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) finalization with Europe.
He had accused the CRNM of failing to negotiate a proper deal with Europe as regards the EPA.
The CRNM was established in 2007 by Heads of Government to develop and maintain a framework for the coordination and management of the Caribbean Region’s negotiating resources and expertise.

Latest News

President Jagdeo takes another jab at CRNM

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

NSC, Office of the DPP to host Criminal Law and Sexual Offences Act...

Lucas Chung maintains strong standing at 2nd...

Farm Supplies Ltd. supports Bartica Regatta 2025

Legislation and Investment: Trinidad to Brazil,...

Three more matches billed for this weekend

CM Khan rules at 2025 National Blitz Chess...

Features/Columnists

“One Guyana” is no less a national slogan than “Green Guyana”

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

Partner v. investor

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

President Jagdeo takes another jab at CRNM

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]