Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
AGRICULTURE MINISTER Roger Clarke has endorsed some of the findings of a damning report issued by the United Kingdom-based Christian Aid, which blames free trade policies for "driving Jamaican women into prostitution and drug smuggling".
The report, which is entitled 'The Damage Done: Aid, Death and Dogma', points to "the devastating impact unrestricted 'free' trade is having on poor communities in developing countries."
The study also blames certain free trade policies, backed by the U.K. Government, for a crisis in India, which led thousands of farmers to commit suicide.
Christian Aid has examined the impact of market reforms in Ghana, Jamaica and India. Its report claimed western nations were backing free trade policies devised by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which are aimed at putting an end to barriers, tariffs and subsidies.
But while not corroborating all the finding of the extensive report, Mr. Clarke admitted that some of the standards the international bodies set are difficult and exacting and have resulted in loss of jobs.
"What I do know is that, especially in the rural areas, it has put much pressure on some of our rural folk, and because of that, they have tended to move towards the cities where they go for this elusive job and they don't get the job and all kinds of things happen ...," cited Mr. Clarke.
ANTISOCIAL ACTIVITIES
However, the minister conceded that the "downturn in our employment possibilities" has forced "some of our people to turn to antisocial activities."
Sarah Wilson, the international journalist responsible for writing the chapter on Jamaica in the report, staunchly defended her finding.
"Absolutely ... I did meet women who were involved in prostitution and drug smuggling," she said.
Ms. Wilson insisted that she was not trying to taint Jamaica's image. On the contrary, she said her organisation was batting for Jamaica and other developing countries.
"We are trying to influence policy makers to recognise the knock on effects of policies made in Europe ... ," she stated.
In agreement, Mr. Clarke lamented that some of the policies implemented by First World policy makers place developing countries in a no-win situation.
"In this situation you are fighting like a lightweight boxer in a ring with your hands tied behind you, blindfolded and having on shoes of clay ... you are in a situation that you can neither fight nor run," he said.
As a means of survival, the minister said that Jamaica will have to abandon the markets it cannot compete in, start targeting its niche markets, and take advantage of its proximity to the United States.
In the interim, Ms. Wilson said that Christian Aid is lobbying the European Union to provide transitional support to the tune of at least $500 million euros for Jamaica and other sugar-producing African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
