In a recent interview with The Tribune Business, Mr. Zhivargo Laing, Minister of State for Finance is quoted as saying that the Memorandum of Trade Regime (MOTR) document for accession to the WTO is "as near completion as it has ever been".
While Mr. Laing should be applauded for his frank answers one is left to wonder what this document might include.
While the former FNM administration started this process back in 2001, and it may take another 3 to 5 years before we could become a full WTO member, this not so humble blogger is willing to bet that few Bahamians understand any more today about the process and the possible contents of the MOTR than we did six years ago. So Mr. Laing and his fellow bureaucrats have their job cut out for them.
As the WTO web site says:
"the WTO is a place where member governments go, to try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other."
However, as Robert Batemarco noted:
"Multivolume documents paying lip service to free trade but forbidding transactions by parties whose competitive advantages are considered by some to be unfair are the antithesis of free trade no matter how many times the words free trade appear in their pages. That managed trade proponents hide the nature of their policy preferences under the cloak of free trade reveals their utter shamelessness. It also suggests that the free trade side is winning the battle of ideas." [More…]
Whichever side one comes down on in this discussion, there will be changes within our economy as a result of signing on to the WTO. The important point is that the government keep its citizens informed about what will be expected of us going forward.
Unfortunately trade is made more difficult with the further intrusion of governments into the process. Individuals trade, not governments, so as long as there are no protectionist measures introduced by governments this is all a moot point.
You read that right. Governments create protectionist regimes and then start international organisations to prevent protectionist policies.
What’s wrong with that picture?
HI Rick, can I answer that last question?
What is wrong is that governments have anything whatsoever to do with trade.
They should stand on the side and collect their tith (sorry) tax.
If they want to know anything I’m sure the private sector will be happy to instruct them.
Hi Rick,
Well. This administration has been eerily silent on the issues- at least the PLP tried to talk you into things- the CSME is an example of the open type forum we HAD. However, I don’t like all of this secrecy from the FNM, especially in regards to these trade agreements that are deleterious to “business” in the Bahamas.
Unless Bahamians harness the natural endowments under their own sun, we will lose our economic interest in these islands and that is not wanted and should not be wanted by any voting citizen- not even a little bit wanted by the business men and women. “People with no interest, show no interest”.
I have said it time and time again, if you did NOT want CSME, you do NOT want EPA and certainly not WTO. In fact, we were barely ready for CSME so how can we now be ready to negotiate to the point of near signature or signature- which is what I have seent he EPA is almost a done deal.
No Chris. This is not the way forward and these issues, if signed blindly as did the FTA downtown, sets this country up for major economic damage IF the deal I read, is passed off on from the EPA to the African-Caribbean nations.
For all intents and purposes, this is merely a ditch attempt to derail trade deals from China in order to throw us scraps yet again- everyone knows it, even EU trade analysts who are supposed to be on the side with Mandelson, can’t run away from the obvious.
They, the EU, never saw value in African and Caribbean development through trade- and all of a sudden NOW, they want to give us a “deal”? A deal that is garbage and intrusionary at it’s utmost. All of this, to bully and force African and Caribbean countries into yet again, decades long arrangement’s with them with no benefit for the vested country interests in these countries.
That does not bolster stability, in fact, it will go the exact opposite way IF the countries involved in the Caribbean and Africa, do not have a chance to participate in growing their own country and human resources.
But, even more dangerous, is this lack of openess on what exactly are we signing onto by this FNM regime. I mean, put the issues on the table.
As “in the mix” as you and Chris are, to some extent, you have to come to a blog and ask a question that should be answered with one quick trip to the Min of Foreign Affairs? That does NOT sound good. A hit we can take, but, blind hit from the back will cripple us.
Laing, and it pains me to say this as he was one of the FNM ministers, who I had an ounce of faith in to do things right, being a Christian and all, has been disapointing in his representation of the issues.
Bill.
Dear Bill:
Welcome back.
Unfortunately you are right. The PLP tried to talk us into CSME. The problem is they did not want to share the details either.
It’s the way politicians operate. It’s up to us to keep them on their toes.
All the best for the holidays.
Happy New Year Rick,
I think it was better to “engage the population on the issues” rather than try to force us into WTO and the EPA. You call it “talking us into it”, it did not work and we move on. The Bahamian people did not want it- so get over it.
The Min of Foreign Affairs, with Leo Archer, produced a booklet and led lengthy town meetings on CSME, to inform and share with the Bahamian people, the value of the Bahamas having to open up to the world. I don’t consider that not sharing any details and in fact, if anyone is out there who has not been sharing any details, or discussing with us any new issues, it is this administration with the EPA and their designs on WTO- the latter is not needed at this time, and, if they force it on the Bahamian population the results will be disasterous.
CSME, was a situation where the Bahamas, could have opened up slowly and still maintain the lion’s share in the Caribbean- if done properly. We, as a people, did not want it, because we had a psychological fear of more immigrants- same issue world over. And, the business leaders, did ot want it because they did not want to lose their domestic market share. However, the CSME would have and should have been a primer to further trade liberalization- if you did not want to even touch the CSME package with a ten foot pole, you do not want EPA and do not want WTO.
Fact is, no work has been produced or shared with us on WTO and EPA- neither has any talks about the Bahamian benefits, been led by the FNM. The ball is in their court. Leo Archer and the Min of Foreign Affairs, with Fred Mitchell in the backdrop, produced work and shared with us their views. We did not want it. We as a people moved on, or, should move on Rick.
Best wishes for the New Year Rick,
Bill.
Your blind support of Fred Mitchell and the PLP caused you to overlook my point that neither party has engaged us on the issues.
It’s not unlike the EU Constitution issue and what the politico’s are doing over that side of the world.
All the best for 2008 to you as well Bill.
Rick,
The CSME was a lengthy public display of engagement with the Bahamian people. This is how people hated it and, if you have not seen the information on the CSME, produced by Archer with the Min of Foreign Affairs, and Fred Mitchell promoting it’s pro’s and con’s, I will have to direct you to this website.
Meeting with the Chamber, led by Mitchell
http://www.bfsb-bahamas.com/media/CSME%20Presentations.pdf
CSME package, produced by the Min of Foreign Affairs, led by Archer.
http://www.mfabahamas.org/_private/QUESTIONSANDANSWERSCSME.PDF
I personally went to some of the town meetings. And, have spoken to business men and women who had issue with it. The PLP pushed the agenda and was defeated- get over it. The CSME is a dead issue. We have done away with it. Just acknowledge the facts.
However, who has shared with us any information of the EPA? No one. In fact, the average Bahamian does not even know about the EPA.
So, in conclusion Rick, it seems as if this FNM, exclusively, have not been sharing with us information on their trade arrangements and, the PLP, had shared too much- this is why there was public outcry on the CSME.
My question is however; do you know the EPA affects us more than that of the CSME?
Happy new Year Rick,
Bill.
Bill:
Those of us that were interested read all of Leonard Archer’s work.
However, it is important to consider what was NOT said by Messrs Archer and Mitchell.
You see, when you are selling an idea you leave out important details. When you are informing your citizens you must discuss the pros and the cons.
Unfortunately, neither Mr. Archer nor Mr. Mitchell thought it was important to do that because they think they know what’s best for us.
If you take the time to re-read the blog above you will see that I am equally critical of Mr. Laing about what is not being shared.
Trade is important. Government controlled trade is dubious at best.
Then we have to support their little bastions abroad where they make laws and expect our Parliament to implement them without proper review.
Not something I’m in favour of.
Here’s a couple links for you to consider:
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-1421–25-25–.html
http://www.bahamasb2b.com/news/wmview.php?ArtID=5273
http://www.nassauinstitute.org/articles/article522.php
http://www.nassauinstitute.org/articles/article367.php
I would also recommend you read The Great Deception by Christopher Booker and Richard North. It describes, rather eerily the approach taken by Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Archer.
The authors are addressing the EU of course, but no matter the issue politico’s have a particular approach to these things.
Here’s a link at Amazon for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Deception-European-Union-Survive/dp/0826480144
Rick,
I don’t need a book of the month suggestion from you. However, some of those same books, I suggest you “re-read” and try to understand what the text has been telling you.
Bill