Even though The Bahamas has joined forces with other Caribbean countries to collectively address the pending Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, local negotiators have been instructed to “take a divergent view” in instances where it is in the best interest of the country.
Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller made the disclosure on Tuesday night during his address at a town meeting held at Nassau Beach Hotel to discuss the current developments of the FTAA process.
“I wish to emphasise however, while we are negotiating in collaboration with Caricom, Bahamian negotiators have been instructed that in instances where it is in the interest of The Bahamas to adopt a divergent view from Caricom, they must speak at the table on behalf of the Bahamian Government and people, to safeguard the rights of The Bahamas as a sovereign and independent nation,” he said.
It is the general perception, he continued, that the United States will make every effort to accelerate the pace of the negotiations in an effort to conclude the neogtiations before their November 2004 presidential election.
“The accelerating pace of the negotiations will place tremendous pressure on small ecnomies such as ours to implement any obligations under the proposed Agreement and to effectively participate in the on-going negotiations,” Minister Miller said.
In recognition of this, he advised, the 25 members of the Bahamas Trade Commission the government appointed were drawn from every sector of the economy, including representatives from Abaco and Freeport.
The Commission will advise the Government on the administrative and institutional framework for the development of an effective response to globalisation and the trade liberalisation process, in particular the formulation and development of realistic and pragmatic trade policies that will foster the sustainable growtn and development of the Bahamian economy.
“The accelerating process of globalisation will inevitably shape and continue to shape our nation’s economic and social landscape well into the next century,” Mr Miller said.
The transformation effects of this phenomenon will impact all countries, both large and small, the Trade Minister foreshadowed.
The Nassau Guardian
