(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A recently concluded two-day Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat-organized workshop for media practitioners from the CARIFORUM States has been characterized by participants as “very successful.” The first of its kind, the Regional Media Workshop on the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), convened 14 to 15 March in Antigua and Barbuda, brought together representatives of print and broadcast media houses, many of whom report on business news. The workshop was funded under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP). It was also made possible by UKaid from the Department for International Development, through the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund).

The general feeling amongst participants is that “coming out of the workshop they are armed with a better knowledge base regarding the CARIFORUM-EU EPA but also equipped with a journalistic tool kit to better report on this important Agreement, in a way that will resonate with the general public.”

Mr Isani Cayetano, a representative of the broadcast media from Belize, said that for him an important take-away from the workshop was the “network established amongst journalists who have a keen interest in reporting on the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.” He went on to note, “the network established between journalists and the experts on hand is also extremely important; as journalists, we should not under estimate the value of establishing and cultivating relationships with experts and technocrats, who we ultimately have to interact with as we develop stories on the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.”

Building on this theme, the journalist in attendance from the Dominican Republic, Ms Dolores Vicioso said of the networking that took place at the workshop, “it makes for human interaction that holds the potential to advance the cause of Caribbean regional integration, which is critical to realizing the full potential of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.”

In delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony, Senator the Honorable Joanne M. Massiah, Minister of State within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda reminded participants that as media practitioners they have an “awesome responsibility of conveying the truth and relevant information to the common man in a timely and constructive manner.” She underscored the point that “the Region’s trade agenda impacts the daily lives of our people and businesses within the Caribbean.” In this latter regard, Senator Massiah noted that “it is imperative that the EPA be featured more frequently in what [regional media practitioners] produce.” She urged media practitioners in attendance at the workshop to “assist in the proper distillation and dissemination of development issues such as the EPA so that all strata of society can be fully informed.”

The themes touched on by Senator Massiah permeated the working sessions that followed the opening ceremony, especially through the course of the second day’s proceedings.

The workshop got underway with a session dealing with stock-taking of where the EPA implementation process currently stands, with emphasis on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services/Investment and Trade-related Issues. Consideration was given to some of the obligations that have fallen to CARIFORUM States, following brief presentations which sought to explain the terms of the related areas of the Agreement. Rounding off the session was a review of the legislative and regulatory requirements which need to be addressed by CARIFORUM States in the implementation of the Agreement.

Respective presentations were delivered by staff of the EPA Implementation Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat, in addition to a staff member of the Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) of the CARICOM Secretariat. The session was chaired by the National EPA Implementation Coordinator in the Antigua and Barbuda EPA Implementation Unit, Ms Barbara Williams. In the ensuing discussion, participants noted that although the subject-areas covered were complex, and for some, at least, challenging to grasp, they were able to better connect the legislative and policy changes as well as regional integration and development cooperation-related deliverables which inform the EPA implementation process.

The focus shifted in the follow on session, which was geared at framing how the private sector can leverage the CARIFORUM-EU EPA. This session was chaired by the immediate past President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Mr Nigel John, and the initial presentation was by a representative of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Mr Carlos Wharton.

The presentation served as the springboard into a spirited discussion of the opportunities stemming from the Agreement for the private sector to access the markets of the European Union. The discussant for the session, the current President of the CAIC and manager of a manufacturing facility in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mr Carol Sylvester Evelyn, highlighted the importance of the Agreement to certain operators in the manufacturing sector in the Region. What was described as the “tremendous potential” of the Trade in Services regime in the Agreement to transform the type and level of access of various services suppliers within the CARIFORUM States to the European market was also highlighted in the discussion. However, the discussion also drew attention to some challenges that face prospective service suppliers from the Region, regarding access to the markets in EU Member States.

The second day’s sessions resonated with the journalists on hand, participants said. Participants were particularly enthusiastic about the Seminar on Business/Trade Writing, Research and Reporting Techniques, held in the morning, not just because of the subject matter—which served as an “important refresher” for so many of them—but also because it was led by a regional journalist who they hold in such high esteem, Mr Paget de Freitas of the Jamaica-based The Gleaner Company Ltd.

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: nbardouille@caricom.org