KINGSTON, Jamaica – Until now, the debate about Jamaica’s relationship with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been emotive and huffing.
The core of the issue is Jamaica’s near US$1 billion trade deficit with the community, the bulk of which is with Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica mostly place the blame for this state of affairs on claims that Port-of-Spain breaks regional trading rules by providing energy subsidies to its manufacturers, who in turn cheat on the rules of origin for their products.