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Oswald Williams, assistant secretary with responsibility for Settlements/Enterprise Development/Labour and Co-operatives, asserted that the debate must now be taken to the next level, where we seek to determine the benefits and ways in which these benefits could be maximised.

Williams stressed this must be made absolutely clear to the citizenry when he addressed a CSME/FTAA seminar hosted by the THA’s Business Development Unit (BDU) at Mt Irvine Hotel Thursday.

He argued that countries in the region would not benefit equally from these two trade mechanisms and would have to compete for any benefits.

Williams noted it was possible that while the region as a whole may benefit, several countries were likely to be negatively affected. It was also likely, he added, that while the overall economy in a country may flourish, individual businesses could suffer, even fail. In Tobago’s case, he stressed that one must look at the wider market of the Caribbean, as others "will be looking at us."

Williams urged that there must be no hesitation in forming "market" alliances with other countries in this regard. Facilitator for the session was St Lucia-born Vincent Atkins, senior research professional at Caricom’s Agricultural Trade Negotiations Unit, who delivered a wide-ranging presentation on the "Status of the Multilateral and Hemispheric Trade Negotions," with special focus on the World Trade Organisation (WTO), FTAA, and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Atkins emphasised that with all the trade liberalisation moves now in train worldwide, "everyone is being asked to pull up your socks and compete." He stressed that Trinidad and Tobago must be ready to open its doors.

"If it wants to benefit from trade liberalisation, it must be willing to allow others to benefit from it," he argued. Atkins noted that in this regard, a government cannot/should not discriminate against a foreign firm by favouring the local firm.