----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 3:16 AM Subject: [STOPNATO] Fwd: san: Caribbean nations worried about free trade expansion STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM In a message dated 06/06/00 6:38:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Subj: san: Caribbean nations worried about free trade expansion Date: 06/06/00 6:38:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Francois Tanguay-Renaud) Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dave Steele), [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is a good piece of journalism by the CBC. The FTAA is still far from ratification. We have time... Please circulate (and sorry for cross posting). --Fran�ois *************** Caribbean nations worried about free trade expansion www.cbc.ca Tue Jun 6 2000 WINDSOR, ONT. - The gathering of the Organization of American States is ending its three day meeting in Windsor. On the final afternoon, Canada joined 18 other countries by ratifying a formal convention against corruption. Much of the organization's agenda was taken over by the need to take action against Peru because of its questionable election. But, some of the concerns of the smallest members in the OAS didn't receive much attention. One of those issues is the impact free trade and globalization will have on the small island states of the Caribbean. Those countries are not embracing the idea of a massive free trade deal in the Americas. When Prime Minister Jean Chretien opened this OAS conference, he said Canada would push for a free trade deal for the Americas because it will benefit everyone in both hemispheres. But about 10 foreign ministers from small islands in the Caribbean are sceptical. Billie Miller, from Barbados, says the developing countries can't abandon subsidies to make the transition to free trade without a great deal of pain. "Globalization can have an early, negative impact that may well outweigh any eventual, positive outcome," he said. And Sam Condor, from St. Kitts and Nevis, says if there is going to be a free trade agreement, Caribbean countries are going to want exemptions to buy themselves some time. "All we are asking is for the international community to understand that we are at a tremendous disadvantage, and we will need some concessions," said Condor. But the most dramatic clash with the pro-free trade stance of Canada and the United States came from the tiny country of Saint Lucia, which has a population of just 150,000. Foreign Minister George Odlum said "there must be an acceptance of the principle of the redistribution of resources." In a speech most people missed, Odlum referred to problems his country has with the U.S. He wasn't very friendly. "The richer a country becomes, the meaner and more insensitive it becomes. My country Saint Lucia has been on the receiving end of a banana war with the richest country in the world, which incidentally does not produce a single banana." In Saint Lucia, Odlum says, people aren't cheering for free trade. "Our farmers are feeling more and more insecure as the United States touts the merits of globalization, and free trade." Odlum noted both Canada and the U.S. have reduced their foreign aid to the region. And now the rich countries are telling the poor ones to put their faith in free enterprise. Odlum told his colleagues there should be more room, not less, for government assistance in the Americas. "How can we galvanize this acquisitive and rapacious world to this culture of sharing, love, and understanding?" he asked There have been many references during this conference to 'La Gran Familia' - the big family of the Americas. And, as in many families, there are arguments. The Caribbean foreign ministers say the forces of globalization don't give them much choice. They're unsure, and afraid, of where the family is going. >> ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________________________ Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com
This is a good piece of journalism by the CBC. The FTAA is still far from ratification. We have time... Please circulate (and sorry for cross posting). --Fran�ois *************** Caribbean nations worried about free trade expansion www.cbc.ca Tue Jun 6 2000 WINDSOR, ONT. - The gathering of the Organization of American States is ending its three day meeting in Windsor. On the final afternoon, Canada joined 18 other countries by ratifying a formal convention against corruption. Much of the organization's agenda was taken over by the need to take action against Peru because of its questionable election. But, some of the concerns of the smallest members in the OAS didn't receive much attention. One of those issues is the impact free trade and globalization will have on the small island states of the Caribbean. Those countries are not embracing the idea of a massive free trade deal in the Americas. When Prime Minister Jean Chretien opened this OAS conference, he said Canada would push for a free trade deal for the Americas because it will benefit everyone in both hemispheres. But about 10 foreign ministers from small islands in the Caribbean are sceptical. Billie Miller, from Barbados, says the developing countries can't abandon subsidies to make the transition to free trade without a great deal of pain. "Globalization can have an early, negative impact that may well outweigh any eventual, positive outcome," he said. And Sam Condor, from St. Kitts and Nevis, says if there is going to be a free trade agreement, Caribbean countries are going to want exemptions to buy themselves some time. "All we are asking is for the international community to understand that we are at a tremendous disadvantage, and we will need some concessions," said Condor. But the most dramatic clash with the pro-free trade stance of Canada and the United States came from the tiny country of Saint Lucia, which has a population of just 150,000. Foreign Minister George Odlum said "there must be an acceptance of the principle of the redistribution of resources." In a speech most people missed, Odlum referred to problems his country has with the U.S. He wasn't very friendly. "The richer a country becomes, the meaner and more insensitive it becomes. My country Saint Lucia has been on the receiving end of a banana war with the richest country in the world, which incidentally does not produce a single banana." In Saint Lucia, Odlum says, people aren't cheering for free trade. "Our farmers are feeling more and more insecure as the United States touts the merits of globalization, and free trade." Odlum noted both Canada and the U.S. have reduced their foreign aid to the region. And now the rich countries are telling the poor ones to put their faith in free enterprise. Odlum told his colleagues there should be more room, not less, for government assistance in the Americas. "How can we galvanize this acquisitive and rapacious world to this culture of sharing, love, and understanding?" he asked There have been many references during this conference to 'La Gran Familia' - the big family of the Americas. And, as in many families, there are arguments. The Caribbean foreign ministers say the forces of globalization don't give them much choice. They're unsure, and afraid, of where the family is going.
