TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Bahamas Blog International
Bahamas Blog International
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) With The European Union: "... holds no benefits for The Bahamas"
Related to country: Bahamas

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Union boss weighs in on EPA proposal:
By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, NG Senior Reporter -
Nassau, Bahamas:



Less than a week after scores of Bahamians participated in a peaceful demonstration in the city's center in protest of the government's proposed signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, a leading trade unionist yesterday called for more consultation on the move.

Bahamas Public Services Union president, John Pinder, said the labor organization had gone on record to the government that the country was not ready for such a move, "as it holds no benefits for The Bahamas".

"We have to now get some more consultation with them on the EPA before anything happens," said Pinder, who was a guest on Island FM's radio talk show "Parliament Street".

The EPA is designed to open up trade between Caribbean and European countries. The Bahamas has not signed any part of the EPA agreement to date.

Among the concerns are provisions under the services portion of the EPA that appear to guarantee European workers access to this jurisdiction, specifically certain professionals. The EPA is reciprocal. However, some observers feel it would be unfair to further open Bahamians up to competition from Europeans and other foreign nationals for jobs in The Bahamas.

Pinder claimed that before last year's general election he asked both leaders of the two major political organizations to consider offering a Senate seat to a labor representative — on the recommendation of the National Congress of Trade Unions — so that someone would be able to speak on behalf of workers in the country.

However, he said that request was not heeded to.

"If they do not see the wisdom in ensuring that labor has a seat, then the repercussions are coming. So let them in July sign on or try to sign onto the EPA without the union understanding fully well, then they will find out if we had a seat there," Pinder said.

In an earlier interview with The Nassau Guardian, Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing shot down claims that the EPA would shrink the local job market if The Bahamas became a signatory.

According to Pinder, under the former administration he was told they were getting ready to deal with the EPA and it was going to be a Cabinet decision, and not a population decision.

He alleged that they did not want the masses to know. Now, Pinder said this government appears to have adopted the same attitude.

"They are just going on thinking the Cabinet should make a decision on something that impacts the entire workforce of this country — fundamentally impacting people's lives and jobs."

Pinder said he would address the issue in his Labor Day speech. He said he would urge the government to have more town meetings and talk shows to ensure that people understand the EPA.

"I don't believe the government should sign onto this and people have all of these different opinions," he said.

Government officials have denied claims that the EPA would allow foreign workers to easily enter the Bahamian job market.

"I absolutely refute it," said Minister Laing. "I mean there are a large number of areas which we reserve in this economy now for Bahamian participation and those are areas, for the most part, that will be reserved for Bahamian participation. It is absolutely untrue that any straw vendor, retailer or wholesaler has to be concerned about an economic partnership agreement allowing any foreign participation in those areas. It's just absolutely untrue."

But, Pinder insisted yesterday that the matter had to be looked at from a labor perspective. "How does this threaten the livelihood of persons who are here?"

June 2, 2008 | 5:01 PM Comments  0 comments

You must be logged in to add tags.


Dennis Dames's Profile


Latest Posts
Meatless Mondays: Do...
Regional integration...
Call for unity as the...
Slow Down: How Our...
The situation in Honduras

Monthly Archive
December 1969
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009

Change Language


Tags Archive
america american bahamas bahamians bush caribbean crime cuba development economic enfusion engagement global health ict4d individualeconomy international investment networkbuiding obama organisationalchange people personaldevelopment political president socialentrepreneurship trade war world

Links
A+ Links Int'l
Bahamas Blog
Bahamas Dames
Bahamas Hotels
Bahamas Search
Bahamian WebRing
Blog Directory
Blogadr
BlogExplosion
Cheap Int'l Calling Cards
Crooks Blog
Dating Network
Free Paid Web Directory
LS Blogs
Politics Blogs
Top 100 Women Websites
Top Web Blogs
Vote For Me


695681 views
Important Disclaimer