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Contact: Office
of the Prime Minister
Friday, October 17, 2008 – Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King
returned to the island on Thursday 16 October 2008 after participating in the
Ceremony for the Signing of the CARIFORUM – EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
held at the Sherbourne Centre, Barbados on 15th October 2008.
Thirteen of the 15 Member States of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) and the
European Community signed the Agreement. The other two members, The Republic of
Guyana and Haiti, indicated that they would be signing at a later date.
Those present recognized the historic significance of the signing and the
intense, complex and often difficult negotiations leading to this Economic
Partnership Agreement. Members were reminded that it was now vital “for the
region to recognize that there must be a societal sea change in attitude and
work ethic leading to a collective effort involving public and private sectors,
labour and civil society, all aimed at enhancing our productivity and
competitiveness”
Prime Minister King has noted that successful implementation of the Agreement
will be imperative to ensure that the EPA redounds to the benefit of the people
of Saint Lucia. For this reason, he will arrange a series of strategic planning
meetings with the private and public sectors in order to discuss the roadmap for
implementation.
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