Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

1/7

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

2/7

2

Sen. Jennifer Webster

Colleague Ministers,

Sir Edwin Carrington

Colleagues at the Head Table

Officials, delegates

University of the West Indies, Students

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the media Good Morning

It was only a few months ago, I sat here as the stand-in-chair of the

Council in place of my colleague from Trinidad and Tobago and directed

the meeting on a number of critical matters facing the Community.

Since then, a number of other developments at the national, regional

and international levels have taken place, and the Council, like many

times before, is being called upon to take decisions that will map the

trade and development agenda for the region into the approaching

New Year 2011.

As we consider the issues on the Agenda, and not withstanding our

respective national positions, let us not forget that the decisions we

take over the next two days will impact the lives and livelihoods of the

people in the Community.

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

3/7

3

Ladies and gentlemen, the Community will soon bid farewell to the

distinguished Secretary General, Sir Edwin Carrington at the end of this

year following an outstanding tenure to the regional integration

movement during which he has played a pivotal role in the

establishment of a number of key institutions. Over the years, Sir

Edwin, assisted in the elaboration of the work of this Council

particularly negotiations leading to the crafting and signing of the

Revised Treaty along with the implementation of its provisions. Indeed,

Sir Edwins even temperament enviable wisdom and steadfast hands at

the wheel of CARICOM have guided the regional integration movement.

I recall my first COTED in Trinidad and Tobago as the Minister of

Agriculture when Sir Edwin effervescent welcome words of

encouragement and statements of high expectations of me have

remained with me and guided my actions in my service to our

Community. Sir Edwin, you are leaving at a most challenging period for

the region, but I trust that your services will still be available in some

capacity for and on behalf of the region. Sir, you epitomise professional

regional stewardship and it is for those reasons among others the

government and people of Antigua and Barbuda accorded you our

countrys highest honour.

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

4/7

4

On behalf of the Council, we congratulate you and express our

appreciation for your stewardship, advice, and support to the work of

the Community and by extension this Council. Colleagues, as we reflect

on our individual interactions with Sir Edwin, I invite you all to stand

with me and offer a round of applause to the Secretary General for his

distinguished contribution and dedication of the Community.

Colleagues, the events of the past month relating to the devastation of

Hurricane Tomas on our sister countries, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the

Grenadines and Barbados, reaffirms the regions vulnerability to

natural disasters. Those events and the historic experiences especially

the destruction of Haiti have reminded us of the need to be prepared,

since our geographical location coupled with the challenges of climate

change will continually cause us to battle with some type of natural

disaster in the future. As the region collectively responds to the needs

of Member States affected by these disasters, let us continue to

support the reconstruction efforts in those territories.

Of course, Haiti poses unique challenges; from the trade dimension, the

Council is being called upon to support a temporary concessionary

request from Haiti for nonreciprocal trade of selected goods in the

regional market. The Council in its deliberations on this issue should

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

5/7

5

also map the technical assistance requirement of Haiti for their

eventual participation in the CSME.

Colleagues, the global environment still places tremendous pressure on

small vulnerable economies in the Caribbean. Ministries of Finance

continue to experience difficulty in balancing national budgets, while

seeking to meet various commitments. That is why this meeting of the

COTED and the expected exchanges among Ministers should result in

the articulation of solutions to the trade related issues.

In considering the external trade agenda, particularly as it relates to the

CARICOM-Canada negotiations, the region must utilize a robust

consultative mechanism with national and regional stakeholders to

provide constructive input throughout the life of the negotiations. We

are continually reminded that the purpose for which we conduct trade

negotiations is to expand the market opportunities for the regional

private sector to trade. Equally, the Development Agenda that is

likely to form part of this agreement, should seek to incorporate the

developmental needs of our economies, while enhancing our

competitiveness.

However, in order for the regional private sector to take advantage of

the conditions afforded them from the negotiated bilateral trade

agreements, the COTED must institute a structured framework for

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

6/7

6

engagement with the regional private sector. Therefore, I call again for

a focussed meeting between COTED and the private sector to ensure

that the opportunities that accompany the agreements can be fully

accessed.

One particular agreement that comes to mind is the CARIFORUM-EC

Economic Partnership Agreement in which Member States are now

seeking to establish the national framework, of which Antigua and

Barbuda is happy to be among the first countries who have established

an EPA Implementation Unit. Member States must make a concerted

effort to calibrate, document and articulate their respective

implementation needs and progress relevant to this agreement.

In complementing our efforts to advance the external trade relations,

the revision of the Treaty should remain an important element of the

agenda of this Council given the fact that it underpins the regional

trade process. We are reminded of the pending implementation of the

amendments to Article 83, and our previous deliberations on that

matter.

8/6/2019 Minister Joanne Massiah's Remarks - 31st COTED

7/7

7

Ladies and Gentlemen, the COTED must continue to review its policies

and programmes to respond to the needs of the Community, while

improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our procedures. Member

States must continue to build on the policy framework and build

partnerships essential to the sustainable development of our

economies.

Furthermore, let us share best practices, and more importantly discuss

and develop approaches and policies to address the challenges which

confront us.

Thank you for your kind attention.