CRNM educates regional media
On Friday the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) held a workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados with regional media personnel to discuss, in detail, the recently agreed upon Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. The CRNM, the Barbadian based negotiating arm of Cariforum (Caricom plus the DR), was represented by Director General Richard Bernal, Senior Director Henry Gill, Services Trade Unit Head Ramesh Chaitoo, Intellectual Property, Science and Technology Senior Coordinator Malcolm Spence and Deputy Senior Director Carl Greenidge. The need for the educational workshop had become apparent in recent weeks as regional media, members of government, intellectuals and scholars began to voice concerns regarding the EPA and its consequences on the region. One of the loudest voices opposing the EPA was from Guyanese president Bharrat Jagdeo who argued that the region had nothing to gain from the agreement. Critics claim that a move from one way preferential treatment, which has been the norm of Caribbean trade policy for more than 100 years, towards reciprocity would cause damaging effects to the small economies of CARICOM nations. DG Bernal contradicted the concerns by explaining that in the face of an increasingly global economy this was the best option for the region. Bernal added that if it were possible to get preferential one way treatment the CRNM would have tried to get it, but with pressure from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and movement by countries towards trade liberalization this was impossible, adding "this is fantasy not a reality, this is fiction not fact." The DG added that contrary to critical opinion the region was not bullied into the agreement. "The need to move towards reciprocity had been known since the Lome and Cotonu agreements. We might not like globalization, but it is a reality. Not everybody makes it in globalization, there is no guarantee everybody will benefit, but the global economy equals global competition. We are competing in today's world. This is a trade agreement, not an aid agreement. This is a hand up, not a hand out and if you can't compete in 25 years you can't compete in 50 or 100 years." As for the DR's role in the EPA negotiations the country was applauded for its efficiencies during the process. In fact, CRNM officials agreed that the DR, because of its CAFTA negotiations with the US, had all ready been ahead of the curve and that it was CARICOM who had to make concessions for the DR. The DR, according to SD Gill, could have held out longer for certain concessions under the agreement, but sacrificed and accommodated to CARICOM.

For audio excerpts from CRNM official's speeches please click below: To listen to audio you should save this to your PC or Mac. Right click mouse and select "save link as..." option.

Dr. Richard Bernal speaks (14.8MB) 
SD Henry Gill speaks (540KB)
Ramesh Chaitoo speaks (13.4MB)
Malcom Spence speaks (11.6MB)
Dr. Richard Bernal Final Comments (546KB)