The Editor, Sir:

With respect to a recent Letter of the Day as well as to other recent articles in your newspaper, please note that a group of civil society organisations from throughout the region have launched a petition to renegotiate the EPA, The petition calls for governments to :

1. Limit the EPA only to what is required to make it World Trade Organisation compatible.

2. Make specific legally binding provisions in the EPA for EC financial and technical assistance for developing our industries, agriculture and services.

3. Insert legally binding criteria designed to measure the socio-economic impacts of the EPA on key segments of our societies - women, youth children, farmers, workers and fisherfolk.

4. Include a mandatory review of the EPA provisions that allows for the possibility of renegotiation within three years of the signing of the agreement.

This petition emerged from the conclusions of a major civil society conference held in Trinidad and Tobago from June 19-20.

I would be grateful if you would bring this to the attention of your readers.

I am, etc.,

SHANTAL MUNRO-KNIGHT

ngowb@caribsurf.com

St Michael, Bridgetown

Barbados

Via Go-Jamaica