ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – The Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, met with Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Hon. Baldwin Spencer in St. John’s, Antigua, April 6. At that meeting, Ambassador Bernal pledged the RNM’s full support to the new government. “The RNM is at the service of Antigua & Barbuda”, he said. The RNM head also briefed the Prime Minister on the status of negotiations across the three major external trade negotiating theatres the region is involved in; namely, the World Trade Organization (WTO), Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Prime Minister Spencer acknowledged that these negotiations are at a critical stage. He underscored to Ambassador Bernal the importance of the region continuing to make a strong case for a special dispensation for small developing economies. In this regard, the Prime Minister said he was familiar with Dr. Bernal’s published work on the subject. Ambassador Bernal held separate meetings with Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism and International Transportation. That meeting also took stock of the state of external trade negotiations. For More Information Contact: Nand C. Bardouille Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery 3rd Floor, The Mutual Building, Hastings Main Road, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados Tel: (246) 430-1678 FAX: (246) 228-9528 email: nand.bardouille@crnm.org