Private sector urged to speak up

The Nation, Barbados

Private sector urged to speak up

12 September 2006

A national call has gone out to the Barbados private sector, asking it to speak out as free trade negotiations between the region and the European Union (EU) near the final phase.

The Barbados Private Sector Trade Team (BPSTT) and the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) have summoned representatives from all local businesses to a September 28 to 29 national consultation on the new economic partnership agreement currently being hammered out between CARIFORUM (CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) and the EU.

They have been urged to come prepared not to just speak about the negative fallout expected, but to outline their vision for the long-term future of their businesses.

This message came from RNM negotiator and technical advisor on intellectual property and agriculture, Malcolm Spence, yesterday at a Press conference at the BPSTT office in the Goddard’s Complex on Fontabelle, St Michael.

This first private sector consultation of its type comes as EPA negotiations, which are scheduled to be concluded in December next year, are now in the third phase of the four-phase negotiations.

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