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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Friday, December 4, 2009 The World Trade Organization is being called
to address disparities created by the global crises, which are impacting
negatively on the smallest and most vulnerable members of the organization.
The call was amplified by Hon. Rufus Bousquet, Minister for Trade and External
Affairs when Caribbean leaders took their turn at the podium last week in
Geneva, Switzerland. In her statement to the auspicious body, Her Excellency
Rosalyn Hazelle, Vice Minister for International Trade, Industry, Commerce and
Consumer Affairs of Saint Kitts, implored the WTO to attend to this call with
due immediacy.
In essence Mr. chairman, the WTO's role should be enhanced to help small
economies withstand the adverse effects of the crisis and promote their
development. This can be achieved by infusing development in all aspects of the
negotiations and by ensuring that there are sufficient programmes geared towards
the strengthening of capacity at the human resource and institutional levels,
Hazelle said.
The Saint Kitts official also called for closer observation of the actions of
larger trading partners that can be detrimental to small economies. She cited
the new air passenger duty which will significantly increase the cost of travel
to the tourism dependent Caribbean territories as a case in point.
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