Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo speaks to reporters about the European Union's sugar policy reform after the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Valletta yesterday. - REUTERS
VALLETTA (CMC):
CARIBBEAN LEADERS on Saturday appealed for compen-sation for the region's sugar producers, facing heavy losses as a result of amendments to the European Union's (EU) sugar regime.
This call followed a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair which took place against the backdrop of an announcement this week that the EU will compensate domestic farmers willing to abandon beet production. Mr. Blair holds the rotating EU presidency,
In a landmark deal struck on Thursday, EU agriculture ministers stuck to plans to overhaul the subsidy-laden sugar policy, slashing prices by more than a third.
REJECTED DEAL
Caribbean leaders attending this weekend's Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit have rejected the deal, which has been described by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, Dr. Kenny Anthony, as "totally unacceptable".
The St. Lucian leader said while farmers in the EU would benefit by up to about 64 per cent, the decision will hurt African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states - former British colonies which have traditionally been offered preferential access to the European market.
"The harsh reality is that the amount being offered to the ACP grouping is ¤40 million per year," Anthony said.
Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo also denounced the offer as "grossly unfair" at a news conference yesterday.
The regional Prime Ministers, who held closed-door talks with the British Prime Minister, highlighted concerns related to the EU agriculture policy.
WANTING EQUITY AND FAIRNESS
Dr. Anthony said for Caribbean countries, whose economies have been built on export commodities, the issue was one of "equity and fairness" and branded the current level of assistance being offered to the region as minuscule.
"It is a drop in the bucket. It is not going to be able to allow these countries to undertake the transitional arrangements that they need to finance as a result of the severe loss of income that is going to occur," he told CMC in an interview.
"So we are insisting that sugar producers in the Caribbean receive the same level of compensation that sugar producers in Europe are likely to receive," Dr. Anthony said.
