Feb 02
Remember that great story you learnt at Sunday School, about the little guy with the slingshot who took down the big bully with a single stone to a part of his anatomy where it really hurts? Well, its happening right here in the Caribbean.
In the 21st century Caribbean version of the timeless Biblical story, the little guy is Antigua and Barbuda; the big bully is the United States; the slingshot is the World Trade Organisation and the stone is international trade law…
CARICOM leaders have given full backing to Antigua and Barbuda on this issue. In a communiqué from the 24th inter-sessional meeting held in Port-au-Prince February 19, they stated: “The Caribbean Community affirms its full support for Antigua and Barbuda in its fight to obtain United States of America compliance with the ruling of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body on the subject of cross-border provision of gambling and betting services.”
“The Conference of Heads of Government calls on the US to settle the dispute with Antigua and Barbuda by honouring its obligations to respect international rules and by complying with the decision of the WTO in this matter. Those rules apply to all countries whether small, large, rich or poor. All countries must abide by their obligations within the Community of Nations in the WTO. The Community has stood with the US and the Community of Nations to defend the imperative of full compliance with internationally accepted norms and rules. However, in this case, the US must review its actions in the context of the principles referred to above.”
“Moreover, as small developing Nation States, we have consistently worked for international cooperation and reaffirmed that all sovereign member states should be regarded as equals, and respected accordingly. In the current WTO dispute between Antigua and Barbuda and the US, we expect the US will fulfil its international obligations and engage Antigua and Barbuda in urgent, meaningful and constructive negotiations to arrive at a mutually acceptable settlement.”