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| CARICOM Chairman Kenny Anthony |
Anthony, who is chairing the Caricom summit beginning Wednesday made the point ahead of the annual gathering of leaders of the community. Some stakeholders in Jamaica have asked for a review of the island’s relationship with the 15-member regional bloc.
Jamaica’s Opposition spokesman on Transport and Works Carson Hodder has complained of what he called a massive trade imbalance between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica’s Opposition spokesman on Transport and Works Carson Hodder has complained of what he called a massive trade imbalance between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
However Anthony told reporters he is encouraged by recent statements from his Jamaican counterpart Portia Simpson-Miller re-affirming Jamaica’s commitment to Caricom.
Jamaican manufacturers have a long standing complaint about unfair subsidies that their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago receive. Anthony said this is a "very complex and sensitive issue" and noted that Trinidad & Tobago has benefited the most from Caricom largely because "it had the courage to restructure its economy, and because of its energy costs."
Anthony stated, "Trinidad is able to extend real benefits to its manufacturing sector as a result of subsidised energy. This a very contentious matter and is the cause of some of the unequal competition between Trinidad and the other member states. It is an issue that Trinidad has to face and grapple with, and one which is also translated in effect of airline operations.”
He said the CCJ is perhaps the best place to settle thses issues rather than trying to do it through policy responses. “The truth is that the Jamaica economy itself needs major restructuring to cope with the issues it has at hand for when economies are in trouble they seek to blame others," Anthony said.
“So there is a larger picture to it and as much as I understand and sympathise with Jamaica that it has to deal with this issue, the fact is, over the years manufacturing in Jamaica has contracted, not only because of rising costs, but because of global competition.
“On the other hand there is some unfairness where Trinidad is concerned, you know the usual problem: when the economy is doing well and you begin to make investments abroad you also attract criticism,” Anthony added.
Jamaican manufacturers have a long standing complaint about unfair subsidies that their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago receive. Anthony said this is a "very complex and sensitive issue" and noted that Trinidad & Tobago has benefited the most from Caricom largely because "it had the courage to restructure its economy, and because of its energy costs."
Anthony stated, "Trinidad is able to extend real benefits to its manufacturing sector as a result of subsidised energy. This a very contentious matter and is the cause of some of the unequal competition between Trinidad and the other member states. It is an issue that Trinidad has to face and grapple with, and one which is also translated in effect of airline operations.”
He said the CCJ is perhaps the best place to settle thses issues rather than trying to do it through policy responses. “The truth is that the Jamaica economy itself needs major restructuring to cope with the issues it has at hand for when economies are in trouble they seek to blame others," Anthony said.
“So there is a larger picture to it and as much as I understand and sympathise with Jamaica that it has to deal with this issue, the fact is, over the years manufacturing in Jamaica has contracted, not only because of rising costs, but because of global competition.
“On the other hand there is some unfairness where Trinidad is concerned, you know the usual problem: when the economy is doing well and you begin to make investments abroad you also attract criticism,” Anthony added.
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