Trade issues best dealt with at CCJ level - Anthony

St. Lucia Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says the issue of trade imbalances among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries is best addressed by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Anthony, the incoming CARICOM chairman, spoke ahead of the July 4-6 summit in Castries amid calls by stakeholders in Jamaica for a review of the island’s relationship with the 15-member regional bloc.

The CCJ, established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court, also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs CARICOM.

Jamaica’s has voiced concern over a massive trade imbalance between that country and Trinidad and Tobago, but Anthony said he is encouraged by recent statements from his Jamaican counterpart, Portia Simpson-Miller, re-affirming her country’s commitment to CARICOM.

Jamaican manufacturers have long complained that their counterparts in Trinidad & Tobago enjoy unfair subsidies and Anthony said that there are several sides to what he described as “this very complex and sensitive issue”.

He said that Port of Spain has benefitted the most from CARICOM largely because “it had the courage to restructure its economy, and because of its energy costs.

“Trinidad is able to extend real benefits to its manufacturing sector as a result of subsidized energy. This is a very contentious matter and is the cause of some of the unequal competition between Trinidad and the other member states,” Anthony said.

CMC