Ja: Gonsalves to Seaga -- You're wrong!

DR. RALPH Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has described as "jaundiced views", statements by Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, that the impending Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) would expose the vulnerability of Jamaica's economy and therefore would not be beneficial to Jamaica.

"I think that particular view is profoundly wrong...When I read grown and experienced men making jaundiced comments, I know that they spring from a source other than an objective analysis of the situation," he remarked.

Dr. Gonsalves was the guest speaker at the annual general meeting of the GSB Co-operative Credit Union Ltd. held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, yesterday. He argued further that "I see CARICOM and the proposed Caribbean Single Market and Economy have nothing to do with Jamaica not taking better advantage of the trading opportunities which exist in the Caribbean."
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Dr. Gonsalves explained that the CSME, when implemented, would "assist Jamaica even more" as the treaty would establish a single economy where Caribbean states would compete equally and fairly. Citing oil as one example of the commodities to be traded impartially under the CSME, Prime Minister Gonsalves said the preferential treatment between the Trinidadian manufacturers and that country's state-owned oil company where they buy oil at a cheaper rate, will have to be removed if the proposed Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) found it to be at a disadvantage to the manufacturers in the other Caribbean countries.

In addition, he said the CSME would have specific rules to address issues such as monopolies, competition and dictate how the region handles industrial, agriculture and fishing policies and all areas of sectoral development.

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