Professor Girvan
THERE are two reports in Saturday’s edition of the Stabroek News (January 19), which on the face, gave opposing views on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed recently between the CARIFORUM and the European Union.

One report taken from the Trinidad Guardian, quoted Professor Norman Girvan (Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies) as saying that “the agreement is not with the Caribbean Community, in fact it is not with CARIFORUM; the agreement is between 14 states of CARIFORUM on one hand and 27 member states of the European Union on the other hand.”

The report further said that Girvan wondered if this agreement would promote greater competition among member states as they try to take advantage individually of the EPA. He was at the time addressing the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association.

The other report is from the Jamaica Gleaner, titled ‘Hylton dismisses Jagdeo’s criticism of EPA benefits’. This report quoted Anthony Hylton, the former Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. His argument is that Jamaica will benefit because of arrangements that were made prior to the Agreement. Therefore, it is the fault of the individual country if benefit is not derived from the agreement.

By his own criticism of President Jagdeo’s statement, Hylton endorses Jagdeo’s position which is similar to that of Professor Girvan, that the agreement will destroy Regional integration since it is an agreement which does not support the intra regional trade and cooperation.

While “Jagdeo could speak clearest for Guyana”, according to Hylton, others see him as a regional leader who has a clear vision of the developments in the Region. President Jagdeo’s position is given credence by Professor Girvan.
ALBERT JACOBS