National EPA Implementation Plans a Key Milestone

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Gains have been made regarding Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), since the signing of the landmark trade and development accord by fourteen CARIFORUM States in October 2008 and by the fifteenth state, Haiti, in December 2009.

The Bahamas forging ahead with EPA Implementation

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Bahamas is poised to finalize its National Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Plan, the major elements of which are expected to put national authorities and non-state stakeholders on a better footing regarding the implementation of the Agreement.

Harnessing Standby Facility to Improve EPA Implementation

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A senior Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) official has called upon members of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) to make full use of a standby Facility for capacity building under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

Role for EPA in Unlocking Economic Value of Region’s Cultural Industries, Sporting Sectors

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Unlocking the economic value of the cultural industries and sporting sectors of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) holds much promise for development prospects, especially at a time when there has been a significant reduction in traditional revenue streams. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) represents an important ‘key’ for the Region, in this regard.

EPA and CSME Standby Facilities launched

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) (The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Standby Facility represents a new paradigm for collaboration between Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) States and the European Union (EU), as does the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility with respect to collaboration between CARICOM States and the EU.

Second Meeting of Legislative Drafters on Draft Model Bills under the EPA

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, under the auspices of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Unit, will from 7-8 March be convening the Second Meeting of Legislative Drafters to consider and refine draft Model Bills intended to give effect to provisions of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM)-European Union (EU) EPA. The Meeting is to be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

`Key architect’ of CARIFORUM-EU EPA passes away

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The former Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Ambassador Henry S. Gill, died on Thursday, 14 February in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He succumbed, following a long period of illness.

“Momentous” Meeting of CARIFORUM Council of Ministers to be held

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Director-General of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) Directorate in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Mr Ivan Ogando Lora, said an upcoming meeting of the Council of Ministers of CARIFORUM will be “momentous.” He expressed this view en route to the Twentieth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of CARIFORUM which is to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 29-30 November.