(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Head of the EPA Implementation Unit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Mr Branford Isaacs, has urged authorities in CARIFORUM States to expedite the introduction of the first tariff reductions under the EPA which were scheduled for 1 January 2011.

Following a first round of consultations with a cross-section of national authorities, underway since the outset of the year and aimed at determining the status of tariff reductions, Mr Isaacs expressed concern that, to date, progress has been “uneven”.

The CARICOM Secretariat has been advised that Guyana has, by Ministerial Order, provided for the tariff reductions set out under the EPA. The Secretariat has also been advised that St Kitts & Nevis has provided for the initial tariff reductions.

Mr Isaacs said that the EPA Implementation Unit will continue to exert every effort to assist States in meeting their obligations.

The fifteen signatory Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific (CARIFORUM) States to the EPA are the independent CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic.

CONTACT: Nand C. Bardouille

Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Unit

nbardouille@caricom.org