Report from Barbados: 18 November
Bridgetown, Barbados 18/11/06: ACP/EU parliamentary discussions have started, before the formal opening of the 12th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, with the now traditional Women’s Forum. Numerous challenges faced by informal women traders were identified in this session dedicated to the role of women in the informal economy.Rhoda Reddock from the Centre for Gender and Development Studies highlighted the negative consequences of economic liberalisation for informal women traders. She noted that “liberalisation led to more imports of cheap food products therefore contributing to the decline of local agricultural industry."
This has had indirect consequences on the numerous informal women traders in the Caribbean, who are trying to leave from selling local agricultural products.” She advises “policy makers to make provisions for informal women traders in their planning and policies”. This would for instance apply to ACP and EU decision makers currently busy programming European Community aid to the ACPs under the 10th EDF.
The standing committee on economic development, finance and trade of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly met to discuss, among other things, small farmers’ poverty and the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations.
Marcella Harris, chair of WINFA (Winward Islands Farmers Association), highlighted “the major impact of trade liberalization on rural communities living from bananas in the Caribbean. Poverty has been increasing in many of these communities.” She reminded Europeans that “in negotiations of EPAs, provisions must be made to support small farmers.” This call to support small farming in the ACPs was echoed by Mr Assarid Imbarcouane (Mali, Member of Parliament). “If the 10th EDF supports agriculture properly, food security can be ensured in Western Africa” Assarid Imbarcouane said. “But our concerns are not taken into account by our partners. If the 10th EDF is not taking our demands into consideration, then poverty will increase in our countries.” He added.
By: Florent Sebban, Eurostep Secretariat
