2009-11-10
Jamaica to Protest CARICOM Decision on Cement
Press Briefing on Cement
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), Karl Samuda, (left) updates journalists on developments in the cement industry, at a press briefing held on November 10, at the Ministry’s New Kingston Offices. Looking on is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan.
Jamaica is to write to the CARICOM Secretariat objecting to the Secretariat’s decision to decline its request for a suspension of the tariff on the importation of 120-thousand tonnes of cement.
At a press conference this morning Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce, Karl Samuda also signaled Jamaica’s intention to place the matter on the agenda of the next COTED meeting, and, if necessary, ask the Heads of Government to a re-examine the provisions of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as it relates to Article 29.2 on what constitutes ‘a qualified majority.”
Giving a background leading up to the final decision to deny Jamaica’s request, the Minister said that following a conditional suspension granted by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at its meeting in Barbados on October 8th, the Secretariat re-opened the issue and again put the matter to CARICOM membership for final approval.
Following numerous correspondence since October 8th, only three of the 14 CARICOM member states responded on October 29, with two indicating that they would not support Jamaica’s request for tariff suspension.
Citing Article 29.2 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which requires a three-quarter majority of the 14 member states to overturn a COTED decision, Minister Samuda said Jamaica is well within its rights to question the final decision on the basis of a response by only three member countries.
He said we would be asking the Attorney General to write to the CARICOM Secretariat objecting to the decision, and to call for broader participation on such matters, as stipulated by Article 29.2.
Referencing the severe cement shortage two years ago, the Industry & Commerce Minister emphasized that he was not just concerned about Caribbean Cement’s ability to supply the local market; but rather about the company’s capacity to provide adequate inventory storage to protect the local construction industry in the event of any break in the supply chain.
He pointed out that importation of cement would not only ensure continued supplies in the event of a crisis, but would encourage the local cement producer to improve its competitiveness and efficiency of distribution.