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Frank discussions needed for common action plan on sugar – Dr. Henry Jeffrey CARICOM Ministerial spokesman on sugar

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial Spokesman on Sugar, Guyana's Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Minister, Dr. the Honourable, Henry Jeffrey, has urged Regional stakeholders to engage in frank discussions towards achieving a common action plan to set the framework for the future in sugar.

Delivering opening remarks at the fourth Meeting of the CARICOM Stakeholders on Sugar on 11 January, 2007 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Dr. Jeffrey pointed to the complex mix of challenges that sugar presented for the Region, and the half of a million people who depended on the industry. Stakeholders, he said, should ensure the sustainability of the industry in an extremely competitive environment.

“The sugar industry is the largest and most important agricultural enterprise in CARICOM,” the Minister said, “and for many countries, the industry's contribution is critical to the socio- and economic well being. “

“Since its viability is so important to us, we need to cooperate and collaborate closely and have a clear understanding about the future. As a result, our discussions must be most frank,” Dr. Jeffrey told the Regional ministers, heads of delegations and industry representatives, as well as Brussels-based and London officials.

The sugar industries of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries now face serious threat following the reform of the European Union (EU) Sugar Regime which became effective on July 1, 2006. According to industry officials, the 36 per cent price cut applicable from the 2009/2010 marketing year will result in an annual loss of revenue of more than 250M and a collective shortfall in revenue of close to 2B by 2014-15.

“It is my hope that this meeting will facilitate the development of a common plan of action to set the framework for the engagement of the Region in all the relevant negotiating arenas,” Dr Jeffrey said.

Stakeholders, he added, must ensure that the Region was not disadvantaged in its negotiations with the European Union (EU) for economic partnership agreements.

According to Dr. Jeffrey, the tasks before the meeting included:

  • the examination of plans and prospects to ensure the sustainability of the industry in an increasingly competitive environment;
  • consideration of all options and their implications, and arrive at scenarios that best suit the aspirations of the Region.

Over the two days, stakeholders will consider the developments that followed the reform of the European Union Sugar Regime, as well as progress relating to the decision of the CARICOM Heads of Government on the retention of Sugar Protocol shortfalls by CARICOM countries.

The forum's agenda also includes the status of preparation of a CARICOM Sugarcane Policy.

On January 13, CARICOM Stakeholders will be joined by the Dominican Republic for further reflections on Sugar within the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement.

CARICOM Stakeholders on Sugar include Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis – which has closed its sugar industry – and Trinidad and Tobago, and the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC).

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