Agriculture

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Mexico are to explore mechanisms for enhanced relations when the two sides meet at the headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana on 16-17 March, 2006 for the Fourth Meeting of the CARICOM-Mexico Joint Commission.

Among the issues earmarked for discussion by the Joint Commission are recent developments in CARICOM and Mexico, as well as collaboration in the areas of education and training, air and sea transportation, and energy.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) President of the Republic of Guyana and Lead Head of Government in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet with responsibility for Agriculture, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, today underscored the importance of the Region’s agriculture industry in reducing the growing food import bill and attaining food security for the Region.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Hon. K.D Knight has pledged his country’s ongoing commitment to trade liberalisation, but has expressed disappointment over the declining terms of trade and erosion of preferential treatment for Jamaica’s banana and sugar exports.

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The decision of the EU to proceed with such a hefty price cut is outrageous and unconscionable, and as though to add insult to injury EU beet sugar producers will now receive compensation covering 64.2% (inclusive of an additional €2.2 billion) of the loss incurred by the price cut. In contrast, a meagre €40 million has been offered to ACP sugar producers as compensation.” This was the reaction of Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Trade and CARICOM Ministerial Spokesperson on Sugar Hon.

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – A ruling handed down by World Trade Organization (WTO) Arbitrators October 27 on the proposed European Union banana tariff has met with deep shock and disappointment across the Caribbean. The Arbitrators ruled that the proposal would not maintain market access for third country or most favoured nation (MFN) suppliers.

GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – “For small developing economies, trade is an important mechanism for nurturing economic growth. In the current international trading environment, however, there is a scaling down and in some cases dismantlement of special arrangements for key Caribbean export products. As a result, there has been dislocation in key agricultural sectors.” This was the message delivered by CARIFORUM’s Principal Negotiator for EPA Negotiations and Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr.

CARIBBEAN CONCERNED OVER EC SUGAR REFORM PROPOSALS Steep Price Cuts to have Devastating Effect on Region’s Fragile Economies CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The European Commission unveiled plans Wednesday (June 22) for an overhaul of the Common Market Organisation for sugar. The Commission reform proposals cut guaranteed prices, totalling 39 percent in the price of white sugar over a period of four years.

Honourable Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Guyana, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh Fellow Ministers of Member States, Colleague Ministers of Agriculture Senior Technical Officers of the Respective Caribbean Member States Members of the Media, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon.