Barbados recently lost out on a deal to gain a profit on shares of the former BNB, by its waiting instead of negotiating with the entity of Republic they lost on a profit of approximately 120 million – while peculiar to Barbados alone, this is part of a growing epidemic where the entire region as a single trading bloc needs to be far more proactive.
Take the situation of Caribbean rum versus who handles other spirits like Smirnoff, Diageo expects the USA to give it preferential access à la the Chiquita/Dole banana war where Bill Clinton was expected to go against the region, which pretty much decimated WIBDECO (the Windward Islands Banana Development & Export Company) as a regional trade body for Caribbean farmers…
Apart from Barbados’ envoy to the OAS John Beale and regular contributor (plus, if you truly accept it, a half-hearted flurry just before our Barbados elections in February from Dr David Estwick of the ruling party as Agriculture Minister), nobody else has made much hue & cry over the unbalanced affair when in fact it should be CARICOM’s sole goal for resolving for 2013!
What is even sadder, is the vanguard to fight this is not from our own region but Canadian experts who recognise somehow the CARICOM initiative is virtually nonexistent and they in turn have to spur on UWI experts to try and create counter-proposals and solutions. Case in point is when Philip Rourke of the Shridath Ramphal Centre (Int’l Trade, Law, Policy & Serv’s.) spoke on the rum dilemma {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
The Shridath Ramphal Centre has a key programme of partnership between UWI and Canada {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
Could not CARICOM seek to develop mechanisms where WE approach Canada and not the other way around? Rather than the Caribbean appear like a damsel in distress, how about it act like a kick ass b*tch with samurai blades for a change?
I am sure these and other instances made boil, indeed which acted as a catalyst for initiating an NGO which can take up the slack, as well as why he recently took a poke at CARICOM’s inertia.
Hinted at over a year ago, the has finally been formed, this is a non-profit organization to represent U.S. companies and individuals doing business in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. However, Mr Delany does not expect benefits as one way, he expects the OECS and Barbados to gain from this NGO as well. Alongside of the fact how the Chamber’s mission is to help American companies succeed in the region through advocacy, networking and business support services.
countries as well as Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Florida in the United States where he has recently established an office.
During the opening ceremony, Mr Delany levelled his salvo at CARICOM, he stated boldly {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
Mr Delany spoke of what led to the formation of the Barbados chapter, having been inspired by regional counterparts {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
Not only US-based experts understand the need for an AmCham, Trinidad inoarticular is forever grateful, Nicholas Galt told witnesses of the launch how AmCham assisted his company {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
This launch marks the opening of the fourth AmCham in the Caribbean Community, after the AmChams of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti. VP of the Americas Jodi Bond of the U.S. Chamber as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liliana Ayalde were present to support the new organization.
During the launch U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Liliana Ayalde expressed her delight at the AmCham-BEC’s formation. Meanwhile, VP Bond had a unique way of calling the names of Caribbean Territories, but she was full of praise for AmCham-BEC’s President & Chairman in spearheading the creation {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
His Excellency, Dr Larry L. Palmer also indicated as a result of AmCham, the United States would be creating new statuses in Immigration so as to facilitate trade between partners {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-
On review – Perhaps Mr Delany needs to alert Ms Bond about the Rum issue as a matter of importance for review by The Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA)?
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