An official witnesses as Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh, signs the Economic Partnership Agreement on behalf of the Government, yesterday, at the Sherbourne Conference Centre, Bridgetown, Barbados. - Barbados Nation

Thirteen of 15 member states of CARIFORUM yesterday signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Community, ushering in a completely new trading relationship between the region and Europe.

The signing ceremony took place at the Sherbourne Centre, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Guyana and Haiti were the two CARIFORUM countries which did not sign yesterday.

Guyana has indicated that it will sign the agreement in the coming days, following its support for a joint declaration, which addressed some of its concerns about the EPA.

Little time to consider

Haiti has asked for time, given the fact that its new government has been battling the effects of four consecutive hurricanes that struck the island, leaving the relatively new government little time to consider the agreement.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, CARIFORUM Secretary General Edwin Carrington called for a change in attitudes and work ethic as the region moved to implement the agreement.

"This approach to the implementation of the EPA may yet provide the stimulus and the foundation for the region's effective insertion into the global economy," he said.

ABOUT THE EPA

3 The EPA was negotiated over a period of almost four years and initialed in Barbados last December.

3 The agreement allows for reciprocal trading arrangements between the countries of the European Community and CARIFORUM, including goods and services, among other things.