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“Every aspect of Caribbean life will be adversely affected by this development; from trade relations to immigration, tourism to financial relations, and cultural engagements to foreign policy. There will be a significant redefinition and reshaping of Caricom-UK engagements.
“The region’s fragile economic recovery is threatened.”
(Copyright Corbett Report)
The University of the West Indies will host a symposium on Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU) at its Mona campus in Jamaica as an in-depth academic reflection on the relevant themes, with a view to facilitating regional action ahead of the Caricom Conference of Heads of Government.
The following is a statement by UWI vice-chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles:
Reaching the limits of emotional despair over how to manage its post-imperial, ethnic nationalism and challenged to participate in the global world as an equal partner, the English have retreated to their traditional identity base at the expense of every other consideration.
It has taken this strategic step in order to go forward as old England versus the world. This is a desperate attempt to reinvent a still idealised past in which ‘Englishness’ is celebrated as a distinct standard not to be entangled or diminished by deep association.
The predictable, highly individualistic action poses both a short-term as well as a long-term threat to the performance of Caricom economies, and should trigger immediate strategic regional reactions even before Heads meet in Guyana next week.
(Copyright BT.com)
Every aspect of Caribbean life will be adversely affected by this development; from trade relations to immigration, tourism to financial relations, and cultural engagements to foreign policy. There will be a significant redefinition and reshaping of Caricom-UK engagements.
The region’s fragile economic recovery is threatened.
Caricom should use this development in order to deepen and strengthen its internal operations and external relations to the wider world. It’s a moment for Caricom to come closer together rather than drift apart. The region should not be seen as mirroring this mentality of cultural and political insularity, but should reaffirm the importance of regionalism within the global context for the future.
Those driving the “leave” agenda knew very well the likelihood of broad based negative global effects of their option but chose to jettison external obligations, a critical feature of hyper-conservative, extreme nationalism.
Next week The UWI will host a symposium in Mona, Jamaica as an in-depth academic reflection on the relevant themes, with a view to facilitating regional action ahead of the Caricom Conference of Heads of Government.
This UK development should not be taken lightly; it should be fully researched as it constitutes an obvious structural threat to the sustainability of economic institutions in the region.
The following is a press statement from the British High Commission in Port of Spain and a response from the Read more
“[…] What has been the real economic benefit and value to the Caribbean people of the CPL? We have given Read more
On Thursday, the Express reported on a surprising conflict at the St Augustine campus of The University of the West Read more
“[…] Guyana and Venezuela declared as follows: 1. Agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or Read more
The following guest column on the relationship between the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana was submitted to Wired868 by Orin Read more
“[…] The Caribbean has, since the 15th Century, been a region of imperial contest and a theatre for wars between Read more
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Rene Sperber
Thank eh but the article says nothing. Word shells.
BREXIT creates EU-Britain nightmare for the Caribbean
JUNE 25, 2016 BY EDITOR IN BREAKING NEWS, OPINION · 0 COMMENT
By Sir Ronald Sanders
(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US; he has served as Ambassador to the EU and the WTO and High Commissioner to the UK)
The 12 English-speaking independent countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have at the most two years to formulate a plan for dealing with the serious consequences of the British Exit (BREXIT) from the European Union (EU).
Indeed, the time may be less if the current mood of the leadership of the EU intensifies. They want Britain gone “as soon as possible”. The presidents of the European council, commission and parliament – Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz respectively – and Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, are reported as saying any delay to Britain’s exit would “unnecessarily prolong uncertainty”.
Once Britain finally leaves, the 12 Caribbean countries will have no structured trade relationship with that country. When Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973, it transferred all authority for its trade agreements to the Community. Ever since then, the formal trade, aid and investment relations between the 12 Caribbean countries has been with EU. These relations were formalised successively in the Lome Convention, the Cotonou Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Key to the terms under which the English-speaking Caribbean countries entered – and continued – the relationship with the EU, was Britain, their former colonial ruler.
Up to the time of British entry to the EU, trade between Britain and the 12 Caribbean countries was conducted under a Commonwealth preferences scheme. That scheme fell away once Britain joined the EU and negotiated the extension of some of those preferences to the English-speaking Caribbean by the European body.
In effect, once Britain officially exits the EU, Caribbean countries will have no trade agreement with it. Indeed, Britain will have no formal trade agreements with any country, having subsumed its authority for trade matters to the EU. Its first task will be to negotiate trade terms with the remaining 27 EU members, hitherto its biggest trading partner. Those negotiations will not be easy. Britain will then have to try to formalise trade agreements with other countries. The United States will be uppermost in its priorities, but President Obama had warned during the debate on BREXIT, that the UK market of 64 million people would not be high on the US agenda. The EU, with a population of 450 million (without Britain) was a far greater target.
In any event, a trade agreement with the 12 small English-speaking Caribbean countries (total market of approximately 7 million) will also not be high on Britain’s list.
However, even though these Caribbean countries have been notionally trading with the EU, the majority of their exports has been going to the British market. Now that the EU will no longer be representing Britain, the EPA will not cover trade with Britain. That is an issue, however much on the back burner it will be for Britain, that will be important to the Caribbean – at least for trade in services, particularly tourism. British tourists comprise a significant number of the annual visitors to the region.
More worryingly, once Britain leaves the EU, there will be several troubling consequences for the 12 Caribbean countries. Not only will the British market disappear from the EU, but so too will the British contribution to official aid and investment. It is most unlikely that the 27 EU countries, which had no historical relationship with, or colonial responsibility for, the English-speaking Caribbean, will want to maintain the level of official aid and investment that now exists.
Importantly, it should be recognised that the EU-EPA is the only such formal comprehensive arrangement that Caribbean countries have with any other country or region of the world. It is vital to maintain as much of it as possible.
There had been some speculation in Britain during the BREXIT debate that Britain could resuscitate trade among the 52 other Commonwealth countries. But, that idea, rooted in Empire, is not only impractical, it would not reap for Britain the trade rewards it derives from the EU. Britain’s earnings from exports to the Commonwealth, is not huge, representing only 9.76 per cent of its total exports in 2014, while its merchandise exports to the EU represented a hefty 45 per cent of its total exports.
In any event, total Commonwealth trade in goods has declined over the years. And, even its share of world trade is owed to the trading capacity of only six of the Commonwealth states – Singapore, India, Malaysia, Australia, Britain and Canada. Moreover, that trade is not between themselves. For instance, China is Australia’s biggest trading partner, and the US and Mexico are Canada’s. In 2014, the six countries accounted for 84 per cent of all Commonwealth exports; 47 countries combined, including South Africa and Nigeria made up only 16 per cent. Not surprisingly, the 36 Commonwealth small states, including the 12 in the Caribbean, enjoy only a tiny share of Commonwealth exports.
As for the notion that Commonwealth countries could fashion a Commonwealth Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under which they could give preferences to each other to expand intra-Commonwealth trade, while this is technically possible to make it compliant with WTO rules, it is enormously difficult from a legal, administrative and even political standpoint. Certainly, Cyprus and Malta would have to leave the EU customs union.
Other Commonwealth countries would also have to review their commitments to other countries with which they have joined in FTAs to ensure that the effect of Commonwealth preferences does not violate their existing agreements, which, in many cases, it must do to make the Commonwealth FTA beneficial to many of its participants.
Finally, the benefits of improved preferential access to all Commonwealth States within an FTA would be exploited by the major economies such as India, Malaysia and then by the developed Commonwealth countries, Britain, Australia and Canada. The Commonwealth’s 36 small states would not get much of a look-in.
Other options have to be explored by the Caribbean countries for dealing with the twin-problem of no formal trade relationship with Britain, and an existing EPA with the EU that is now skewered and ripe with problems.
The Caribbean has known for over a year that the referendum on BREXIT was coming. The result could only have been one of two things – either Britain would stay within the EU in which case it would be business as usual, or Britain would leave. In the latter case, the scenario described above would be the reality with which the Caribbean would be faced. Plans for dealing with it should, therefore, have already been thought through.
If not, the Caribbean has at most two years, and the clock is ticking.’
Caribbean Times.
The experts coming for yuh just now Jamela
uh oh…..Igone…..
lolol..I’m amused!
I had asked these questions as it happened:
Bet you thought the ‘BREXIT’ win does not affect us hence your asking why Trinis talking about it.. I asked these questions yesterday: Sir Ron went into more detail in his article..
‘So what changes will be required to that signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARICOM or rather the larger CARIFORUM and the EU now that Britain has left the EU?
Can CARICOM leave (rescind) it? CAREXIT? HAiti, the DR and the French Doms will still have their ties to the EU.
Will there be less pressure for the English-speaking states to continue relations with the DR?
For reasons of a shared history of colonisation, relationship with Haiti might continue.
Mandelson now Sir Peter pushed very hard for that EPA agreement before the end of his term at the EU and the peerage was his reward.
And all those EU projects in the Caribbean of which the UK was a key partner?
Same questions for the former Brit colonies in the ACP and their EPA..
What about aid & technical cooperation agreements?
Many more questions for the policy wonks and the technical negotiators.’
Even before the vote all those questions and more were being asked. No one has the answers [except the Facebook experts, of-course] so we will have to see how it all plays out
It more and more appears that the Brexit Guys did not really wanted the Brexit but a good close vote to have better negotiating power on a British sweet deal within the EU… unfortunately that will be difficult now… http://qz.com/717182/a-brexit-conspiracy-theory-nails-the-no-win-situation-boris-johnson-now-finds-himself-in/
Tempest in a teacup
We can count on satire… http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/06/24/thousands-of-british-refugees-make-dangerous-journey-across-the-irish-sea/
I think we have to put our own house in order and market ourselves better rather than depending on anyone else to carry us. Most of our exports to the EU were to the UK, now they have their own issues to deal with
I know its not inspiring Lasana…more despairing like..
Sigh. Take a look in the regional parliaments Sav. Not inspiring.
Educate me please Savitri. What exports? Drugs in tinned juices? Despite my sarcasm, I’m really ignorant and do sincerely want to know as I’m not sufficiently informed
Savitri Maharaj and Gregory H. Subero
“Caribbean countries should not expect special deals or preferences from the European Union (EU) if Britain is not there to argue on their behalf, says Prof W Andy Knight.
According to Knight, professor of International Relations at the University of Alberta, Canada, and former director of the Institute of International Relations, UWI, St Augustine, now that the majority of British voters have decided that their country should “leave” the EU, it is likely to impact negatively on the Economic Partnership Agreement between Cariforum (Caricom plus the Dominican Republic) and the EU…”
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-06-26/brexit-fallout-problems-trade-tourism-caribbean
Yes I suspected it would affect us this way Lasana, thats why I said we may be able to continue applying for grants.
You did.
This is all the opinion of one man whom I suspect a research of his past findings will show that nothing much comes out of them. He is speaking a lot of what if here.
Nope. They interviewed four people Gregory. There was also Mariano Browne and Winston Dookeran along with Sir Beckles. Versus you, Kyon and Donald trump. Lol.
Mel Lissa “Browne said trends show that investors prefer order and certainty, so there is the possibility of weaker economic growth in the EU and the UK which is “not a positive development for world growth.”
He said T&T has to be concerned about the impact of Brexit on the price of oil and gas. He said any hint of a recession in the UK “will lead to a decline in market prices and therefore our foreign exchange earnings and a worsening in our current account position.””
http://www.guardian.co.tt/business/2016-06-25/brexit-effect-tt
“T&T will be affected by the instability and volatility caused by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. That is the view of two former finance ministers who said this country could feel the effects as the referendum has already sent global stock markets into a tail spin.”
Yes..I saw it last night
Along with a whole lot of other views of local economists and Caribbean Leaders. I’m just amusing myself by the Facebook experts
lol@all this kneejerk fear mongering. Barely 2days since the result, y’know?
UWI should look at their own nation’s crap first
The Caribbean better be on guard because England will not be spending as much as before .
Why is UWI so damn reactive and not proactive ??? Why didn’t they discuss the pros and cons before ?? They always shoot in the direction they see smoke…..SMH
I agree. I’ve been following this issue (somewhat) for some months, and because I was in the UK for a year I was able to poll my friends and family up there and get their opinions on the topic. My Facebook feed also had some interesting articles. None of my Trini friends ever posted an opinion of the vote; no local news sources that I can name offhand have any insight. Two days after the vote and all of a sudden everyone is sharing misleading memes and giving an opinion about it, acting like it’s the end of the world suddenly. This vote was not a secret. Why discuss the implications for us AFTER the fact? If it’s going to affect us, even if we don’t have a vote, we do have the ability to take in front if possible. This is just failure.
La Toya Hart Because nobody seriously thought that the Leave vote was going to win the referendum
Manyi Eta-Okang, I was really shocked in truth! Honestly, I was really divided about which way I’d have voted if I had the right…..I understood and agreed with a lot of what Brexit advocates presented (and I think the media was and is misrepresenting that stance a lot), but at the same time there was a comfort in keeping things the way they were and remaining. But I really never delved too deeply into the issue and really picked it apart because I just assumed that they’d vote to remain and this will blow over. I was wrong. But I’m not an academic or a policy-maker who has a responsibility to the population when it comes to global issues like this.
La Toya Hart why would you have agreed with the vote to leave the EU? Immigration?
No. Most of the arguments I read that I agreed with didn’t even have immigration as a top issue. I’m not sure I’d say I agreed with the vote to leave, but I don’t disparage it completely like some are doing. I tried to look objectively at both sides, and I just found the argument to leave to be more compelling than the argument to stay- maybe because most of what I read in the remain camp relied on fear-mongering rather than presenting plain facts and figures. As I said, I never really delved deeply into the issue, so I’m speaking out of ignorance, to an extent. I cannot debate one side or the other, all I have is my impression of the issue based on my limited observation and research.
If I had a say, I believe I’d have voted to remain. I think. The whole “devil you know” argument and all. I definitely would have done my due diligence and researched it much better, though……
I wish this concern was shared when the caribbean was bullied into signing a disadvantageous EPA
The U.K. was the 5th largest economy and the 3rd largest EU contributor
The world and the EU cannot do without the UK
The Caribbean knew of the date of the referendum for two years and did nothing to plan for the so called fallout
But the fallout will be negligible
That is wishful thinking and will soon be proven wrong…. the EU was doing fine before the UK joined will will too after thhey will have left… mind you the pound is under more pressure than the Euro…. and who said the pound is one of the worlds priced currencies?
Britain is/was the English speaking caribbean’s advocate within the EU.
The extent to which we’re affected will depend on how strong a message the EU wants to send to other members about the “dangers” of leaving.
You are right
Trinidadians believe that the Caribbean offers such great trading deals to the EU that the absence of the Commonwealth Head will mean nothing.
We on this side of the globe is Champions!
Mel Lissa I beg to differ but I’ll leave it at that for now except to say that it was never that we had great trading deals – it’s always been what they can get out of us
You got it wrong. It was the older generation who wanted a return of their lost boundaries of superiority who voted out. The younger generation were prepared to expand their horizons and extend their boundaries without concern for race and colour. They know that their opportunities are going to getter fewer and skin colour will take on new significance. The older ones do not understand that the ‘old order changeth, giving place to new’. With the brexit vote cast in their favour they are hoping that the old order will be returned to them. The real rude awakening will come. One day, one day congotay.
The question is, can the UK survive without EU?
There is not much to suggest that they can’t. I am no economist but as far I understand the UK pays roughly 18 billion£ to the EU, with an instant rebate of about 5billion £. That’s money in the bank. I’m sure would seek to protect their interest through negotiations, over the next couple of years.
I don’t see the UK crashing and burning just yet. The uncertainty in the market won’t last forever.
That money isn’t charity. They benefit from trade deals and other perks that compensate.
True, but I don’t see the EU playing hard ball with the UK over this, they need each other one way or the other.
So only the UK is capable of making decisions out of spite, pride and politics? Not the EU?
I’d say to keep your options open.
it is not even a matter of spite: the EU with the back to the wall. if they let Britain get away with cherry picking then half of the EU net payers will also “re-negotiate” which will leave the EU broke cause Germany may be rich but can’t pay all of that
Thanks Andreas.
You welcome, the thing is thats the truth…. the fact that everyone in the EU is putting on pressure to finish this divorce fast is cause, they have no choice…. Farange, Johnson, Cameron and Crbyn all played poker with the EU to fix their interior problems and all of them lost…. and the ones that helped them to it: the pensioners, and midlanders (farmers) will have to pay the bill for it…
Oh you better believe that Farage won! Everyone else lost or, like Boris, had a very expensive victory. But Farage is relevant for the first time in his miserable life. This is a tremendous victory for him.
A stupid racist that educated Britain largely ignored. But now the world knows his name.
well, true that looking from that perspective, but that win wont last, because Invoices for the bill to pay are being written as we type…. Morgan Stanley moving 2000 people and two EU Watchdogs located in London already have several countries fighting over where they will move…. one thing for sure: London will soon have some cheap and not so cheap Real estate for rent….
“Cheap” real estate in London is relative I assure you. Lol. Some politicians would be rather be king of a barren rock in the sea than an ordinary bloke in a prosperous nation.
The key will be when the penny drops for his current supporters. But they will probably blame the Germans and Frenchmen for giving the UK a horrible deal on its exit. And they will blame the conservatives for accepting it.
And you know that would stick!
Cameron is in a lose/lose situation now. He should look for an excuse to exit forthwith. Let Boris Johnson fight for the right to see this through.
agreed with you on every point…..
the cheap talk was just to make a point i’m sure its the same as in trinidad where despite recession rwal estate is expensive…
London Real Estate cheap? Allyuh funny oui.
Hence the inverted commas Sav.
The mere fact that on of the world most prized currencies just lost significant value in a day over an act that may take two years to realise should give us pause. Please remember too that several of our Caricom brethren still have official ties to the UK with the Queen as their head of state …
Good Grief!
What has changed exactly? The UK has left the EU. Well not as yet. This will not happen overnight. It will take years before the UK exits. Negotiations will have to take place. Then when it is finally done. We go on as normal trading with the New EU and the UK. Getting aid from both.
Which already occurs
We make both deals with the EU and UK as is already
Gregory that aid ftom the EU will cease. We got it becuz of the UK
Because of the UK? Hmm. How come?
Becuz of our Commonwealth link so Im not sure yet, but we may be able to continue to apply for grants
The EU would have given aid under theACP andtheEPAagreements
Savitri Maharaj am not so sure about that aid is because of the U.K. Everywhere I read about EU aid nowhere did I see the UK.
We got aid and trade agreements from the EU not because of the U.K.
It was done under the ACP framework
Kyon is precisely correct. UK has nothing to do with EU aid, that’s a misnomer.
*** the Commonwealth too because it didn’t protect our crop industries from the EU. Some Commonwealth, I don’t know why we are still Commonwealth.
The Caribbean love to mind everybody else business but it’s own
The Caribbean accounts for less than 1% of all commonwealth trade
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-06-26/brexit-fallout-problems-trade-tourism-caribbean
And how/why were those agreements arrived at?
There will be no adverse effect because the UK always had one foot outside of the EU
This is not Texas nor Quebec leaving USA or Canada
There is no new entity arising
The majority of the EU UK agreements will continue to stand between the both parties with the exception of the 300k per year immigrants the creation of the super army the right of prisoners to vote and the future bailouts of the PIGS and France
Much Ado bout nothing
That’s what you think
Did you even read what the PMs in other Caribbean islands had to say about it? I didn’t see any of them saying ” Much Ado bout nothing”
Typical
The much ado describes them and others
Look there are already agreements between the Caribbean and the Eu which will stand
And between the Caribbean and the Commonwealth/UK which will stand
Sometimes you’re funny you know…
The only thing that will change is the ability of the EU to nullify UK laws or the inability of Westminster to oppose EU laws
These agreements will not remain the same with the exit of the UK…
Give examples
id you even read what the PMs in other Caribbean islands had to say?
Go read them..you’ll find the examples
Give examples which Caribbean agreements will change
I’ll wait on you to bring what u learnt from the Caribbean leaders who I hope are not hypocrites condemning UK insularity whilst holding back their own region
Don’t wait on me..I know where I get my info before I speak.
Hahahaha
Look when u have no ammunition don’t pretend to shoot
Same info available to you too
Do you actually ‘read’ anything? Sometimes I wonder
Mel u made a point
Where is the info you base your point on?
Anyhow since u have nothing to bring
I’ll repeat
No Caribbean relationship or treaty is under threat
And you made one with no info …so
This will not affect Caribbean economics which was already affected by a different factor/policy for the past 5-7 years
You could repeat as much as you like..I don’t depend on ‘how Kyon feels’ about an issue to be informed about it
Hear what name one treaty or relationship under threat
Especially when Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers in the Caribbean are saying differently
Well then name what they identified
Why? Ent you already know that no one will be affected?
They’re a bag of hot air
They can’t even deal with WICB and caricom
Cheups…You’re not dealing with reality you know
Anyway..I’m done with responding to this
Look next time pick up a foreign article read and ignore those regional leaders
You will save me a 12 minutes
Kyon Esdelle is quite correct much ado about nothing.
I’d say whenever there is a ripple in the USA or UK, we feel it one way or the other. Because we are aligned in every way from students and labour to business and trade.
The Caribbean cannot withstand any disturbance in either nation.
We don’t even need major policy change to start to feel the effects. If UK employers are nervous about the future or immigration, the Caribbean will feel the impact within months.
There are also Caribbean people–some have shared stories on this page over the last few days–who work in Europe for British firms. And they are very nervous about what the Brexit means.
We will feel the ripple effect of that.
A far right political party with a racist backbone is on the rise in the UK on an anti-immigration and insular flag. It will affect us.
Lasana we don’t need any opinion from those in the field..in fact we don’t need UWI, St Augustine. Trinidad has enough ‘experts’…
Tell UWI abandon the discussion!
Lol
“What of the fate of Caribbean immigrants in Britain and those who may want to go to Britain in the future, will they benefit or suffer because of the Brexit vote?
My big concern with the Leave campaign was how their leadership (Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, and Nigel Farage) utilised fear of immigrants to convince Brits to say no to the EU.
This bigoted and xenophobic rhetoric could have implications for how Caribbean people are treated if they want to go to Britain or reunite with family members in that country.
The far-right voices of intolerance and racism trumped the middle of the road voices of tolerance and the embrace of the “other”. Unless these potential leaders tone down their rhetoric the less tolerant members of British society might harass Caribbean individuals in the country, or block those Caribbean people who are trying to migrate to the UK. ”
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-06-26/brexit-fallout-problems-trade-tourism-caribbean
This gentleman has similar fears.
Kyon Esdelle *guffaws* enjoying the read lol
Good grief you are all acting as though Hitler just took power. I think it’s best to just wait it out. It’s enough that non-white AND non-British people feel threatened but to suggest that we are going to feel some mysterious downfall is being theatrical.
When the EU formed and destroyed our small island crops it was bad. Now the Brits have voted out maybe Geest might begin sailing again and a tiny banana crop could revive in a few small islands while the EU gets their supplies from Spain or South America or wherever.
There’s so much to be concerned about that is already in train, there’s no need to anticipate the fall of the ‘Caribbean Empire’. We have other stuff to study.
Lasana ppl who fear the anti immigrant platform are hypocrites
The real Crux is the amt of immigrants that the EU wanted Uk to hold
These immigrants are paid benefits
Some of these people will not agree to half the measures in their own countries
As I said elsewhere until Trinis bring in 1million unemployed Jamaicans house them give their kids schools and pay them to make more kids whilst at home nobody have any moral standing to criticise the anti immigrant sentiment in uk
In fact immigrants and descendants of immigrants don’t even like the proposals
And immigration is only one factor in the problem with the EU
All these naysayers should show where the formation of the EU. And the membership of the EU by UK benefitted the Caribbean economies
Aye I missed all this?
I’m well aware of this
true