Antigua & Barbuda will be among the key players in discussions surrounding a number of regional trading arrangements in Guyana this week, including the contentious cement issue.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs Senator Joanne Massiah is leading a three-member delegation to the 29th meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at the Pegasus Hotel.
The other members of the delegation are Trade Co-ordinator Ambassador Dr Clarence Henry, and CSME Focal Point in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy Barbera Williams.
Dr Henry, speaking to Caribarena Sunday evening, said among the issues for discussion at the two-day ministerial session are the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy and an update on the Caricom Development Fund.
He said the meeting will also review new procedures for the suspension of the CET, coming in light of a request by Jamaica to suspend the tariff on the importation of 120,000 metric tons of cement.
According to Dr Henry, Jamaica had objected to the procedure utilized by the Caricom Secretariat to arrive at a no suspension decision on its request to obtain the cement outside the region.
This protracted cement issue appears to be escaping resolve in the short order.
The Caribbean Court of Justice had ruled last August that Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) was entitled to have the CET maintained, as the Guyana government had expressed reservations about the monopoly in the market.
But the CCJ then asked the Guyana government to restore the CET within 28 days. The COTED is now seeking to assert its exact authority in such matters.
Dr Henry said the suggestion is to have the conference of heads of government of Caricom amend article 83 of the revised Treaty of Chaguarams with a view to “affirm the full measure of COTED’s discretionary authority with regards to the alteration and suspension of the CET in response to developments of the region and the international community.”
During a meeting of officials, Dr Henry revealed, this particular subject matter drew intense discussion, and there were submissions by representatives of Trinidad & Tobago and Antigua & Barbuda.
Ultimately, Dr Henry said, “What we are seeking to do is to ensure that the decision of the COTED is not impaired by the different views, legal opinions on the interpretation of the CCJ’s judgement or article 83.”
