PM calls for Sea Bridges
Nation News: If Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley could get her way, Caribbean countries would be linked by sea bridges with vessels transporting people and produce between islands, the information flow would be enhanced, and there would be a single telecommunications space for citizens. “Until we deal with these three things, we are making sport,” Mottley told regional students and the public at the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Thursday night as she participated in a wide-ranging discussion on “Women Shaping Global Economic Governance and Trade”. Read the full article on Nation News here.
SRC-ITC Evening Chat on Women Shaping Global Trade on CBC TV 8
A clip of the joint event “An Evening Chat on Women Shaping Global Economic Governance and Trade” co-hosted by the SRC and the International Trade Centre (ITC) was broadcast on CBC TV 8 Barbados. Please see clip below:
Rough Seas or Smooth Sailing for UK-CARIFORUM Relations in No-Deal Brexit?
Nia Marshall$*A new Prime Minister is usually synonymous with new beginnings – setting clear economic and social objectives, and then creating a plan for achieving them. But ever since 2016, United Kingdom (UK) politics has been consumed largely with Brexit, leaving little policy space for other issues. Past Prime Minister Theresa May had an ambitious policy agenda that was overtaken by Brexit. Her mantra “Brexit means Brexit” was a misnomer because it failed to capture the complexities of detangling forty-five years of close ties to the European Union (EU). Prime Minister May’s departure created an opportunity for the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, a pro-Brexiter, to “have a go” at resolving B…
The UWI and ITC host Evening Chat with Women Shaping Global Trade
The Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy & Services (SRC) of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill (UWI) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) jointly hosted an event entitled “An Evening Chat with Women Shaping Global Economic Governance and Trade” on September 19, 2019 at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (EBCCI), The UWI, Cave Hill. The esteemed panelists were the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, M.P., Q.C., Prime Minister of Barbados; Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the ITC and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations; the Hon. Sandra Husbands, M.P., Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade; and Ambassador Gail Mathurin, Director General of the Office of Trade Negotiations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. The moderator was SRC Deputy Director, Dr. Jan Yves Remy. The chat was inspired by the ITC’s recent publication entitled “Women Shaping Global Economic Governance”. The book, which was edited by Arancha Gonzalez and Marion Jansen, offers critical reflections by influential women on matters of contemporary global economic governance and trade. Prime Minister Mottley, the only Caribbean woman featured, authored a chapter entitled “Vulnerability and Opportunity: What Small States can teach the world”. In his welcome remarks at the Evening Chat, SRC Director Neil Paul, stated that the SRC was pleased to be a co-facilitator of this important conversation. He highlighted that the Event supported the Centre’s mandate to be the leading trade policy training, research and outreach centre in the Caribbean. He used the occasion to announce a free pilot course The UWI is jointly formulating with the ITC to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs interested in exporting internationally. Delivering opening remarks on behalf of The UWI Cave Hill, Principal Professor Eudine Barriteau, GCM, stated it was vital for influential women from diverse backgrounds to share their unique perspectives on global governance and trade and that the event complemented The UWI’s work on gender issues. Professor Barriteau, a noted gender scholar, highlighted the contribution women make to economic governance and noted that leaders have no choice but to ensure that women are not marginalized. Dr. Remy then moderated the star-studded all female panel in an open, free-flowing discussion on a range of global economic issues touched on in the ITC publication. For instance, Prime Minister Mottley highlighted the importance of leaders listening to their people, and took the opportunity to express her warm gratitude to the ITC’s Arancha Gonzalez for being a valued friend to the Caribbean and to Barbados. Prime Minister Mottley also informed the audience that the SRC will be providing technical support to former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Professor Owen Arthur, who will be assisting the Barbados Government in its preparation for co-hosting the 15th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Quadrennial Conference (UNCTAD XV) in October 2020. Mrs. Gonzalez reiterated the need for small States to be present at the table when global rules are being set, and the necessity of a multilateral approach to solving problems, such as climate change. Ambassador Mathurin noted the importance of the World Trade Organization’s electronic commerce agenda to the Caribbean and the need for Caribbean countries to take these negotiations seriously. Minister Husbands, with her background in helping small businesses, endorsed the view that e-commerce holds great potential to transform opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs. The ITC’s Chief of Staff and Chief Adviser to the Executive Director, Matthew Wilson, delivered the vote of thanks, bringing to a close a wonderful evening of lively discussion with a large audience comprising the Diplomatic corps, members of The UWI community, students and the general public.
Where Trade and Health Intersect: Front-of-Package Labelling in the Caribbean as a Case Study
Dr. Arthur Phillips and Dr. Jan Yves Remy$*Oftentimes, in public discourse, trade and health are presented as opposing factions competing for governments’ attention and priority. Those who ardently believe in the right of governments to protect the well-being of their citizenry often see trade rules that promote the dismantling of barriers to trade as being antagonistic to health objectives. Likewise, trade officials often find the concerns raised by health aficionados as irritants to the promotion of liberalization goals.
That “divide” has played out in the context of disputes between countries at the World Trade Organization. For instance, cases have been brought against the Eu…
Barbados PM delivers UNCTAD Raul Prebisch Lecture
Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, was the featured speaker at the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Raúl Prebisch Lecture at its European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on September 10, 2019. Prime Minister Mottley’s lecture was entitled “Invisible Yet Indispensable” and may be watched below:
SRC Trade Researcher talks trade at BITT Conference
SRC Trade Researcher, Alicia Nicholls, was a panelist at the 3rd Annual BITT ‘Central Bank meets Blockchain’ Conference on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 held at the Hilton Hotel, Barbados. The highly anticipated conference attracts speakers and audience members from across the world, including from the fintech industry and the wider private sector, government, regulators and academia. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Beyond Borders’. Alicia spoke about the potential benefits of BITT’s proposed blockchain-enabled Caribbean Settlement Network for the facilitation of intra-regional capital flows, trade, integration and ultimately development. Alicia is also a member of the CSN Working Group. The other panelists were: Mrs. Racquel Moses (CEO of The Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator), Mr. Geoffrey Scott (Executive Director of ICBL) and Mr. John Williams (CEO of the Cave Shepherd Group of Companies). The panel was ably moderated by Mrs. Marla Dukharan (BITT Chief Economist). Staff of the SRC were also in attendance at the conference. The SRC congratulates BITT on a very well-organised, informative and successful conference.
CCJ Develops Manual for Original Jurisdiction Referral
Port of Spain, Trinidad. Port of Spain, Trinidad. The Caribbean Court Justice (CCJ) and the CCJ Academy for Law earlier today, hosted a working meeting at the CCJ’s Headquarters to review and finalize a draft Manual on the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction Referral Process. Article 214 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and Article XIV of The Agreement Establishing the CCJ provides for Treaty-related issues to be referred to the Court under its Original Jurisdiction. However, since the Court’s establishment in 2005, this avenue for legal redress has never been utilised. As a result, the CCJ has resolved to develop a Manual which will provide guidance on referrals to the CCJ from national courts and tribunals of domestic disputes that concern the interpretation or application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). Once finalized, the Manual will be made available to judges, legal practitioners and other stakeholders in the region in the hope that the guidance offered will assist in ensuring that the full benefits of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy are derived by the people of the Caribbean Community. The Manual is being drafted by Professor Alina Kaczorowska-Ireland of The University of the West Indies (Cave Hill), who also facilitated today’s meeting. Professors Karen Alter (Northwestern University) and Laurence Helfer (Duke University) provided perspectives from their experiences as legal practitioners before other courts of similar jurisdictions. Apart from the CCJ President and other CCJ Judges and court staff, the meeting was also attended by the Hon. Mr. Justice Eddy Ventose of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Following the finalization of the Manual, there will be a series of sensitization lectures facilitated by CCJ Judges. The CCJ Academy will also collaborate with the Council of Legal Education to do sensitization activities with legal practitioners. Photo below: President of the CCJ, the Hon Mr. Justice Adrian Saunders being presented with the a copy of the manual by Prof. Alina Kaczorowska.
SRC Staff Contribute to UWI CHILL Magazine
SRC staff members are among the contributors to the latest edition of the UWI CHILL Magazine. The UWI CHILL Magazine is a quarterly publication of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. It explores many aspects of campus life, including analysis articles from UWI staff and students. SRC Deputy Director, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, provided reflection in her article on the recently concluded Geneva study tour which is part of the Centre’s Masters in International Trade Policy (MITP) programme. Alicia Nicholls, SRC Trade Research Assistant, authored an article on expanding China-Caribbean trade relations. Former SRC Trade Research Assistant, Camille Russell, authored articles on genetically modified organisms and the current state of intra-regional poultry trade. The most recent edition (Issue 23 -September 2019) will soon be available at this link.
Save the date! SRC/ITC Women Shaping Global Economic Governance and Trade
The SRC, in collaboration with the International Trade Center, will be hosting “An Evening Chat with Women Shaping Global Economic Governance and Trade” on Thursday, September 19th. Come listen to influential women speak on the trends in economic governance and trade, from their unique perspectives! Please see flyer below for further details: