Antigua-Barbuda opposition criticises PM for not attending ACP summit
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| Published on Monday, October 6, 2008 |
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By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
ST JOHN’S, Antigua: The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) has severely criticised the country’s Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, for snubbing African, Caribbean and Pacific leaders by not attending the ACP summit in Ghana.
In a statement, the ALP said that Spencer had an obligation to attend the meeting to represent the views of Antigua and Barbuda and CARICOM of which he is the current Chairman.
“Spencer had failed once again on his duty as head of government of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of CARICOM to face the music in Ghana by explaining to the leaders of Africa and the Pacific why CARICOM is signing a full Economic partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union and most of them have refused to do so," the statement added.
The ALP drew attention to the statement of the Ghanaian President, J.A. Fufuor at the opening of the ACP meeting when he criticised the EPA saying that the agreements had the potential to undermine regional integration efforts and split the ranks of ACP countries.
The Caribbean has been severely criticised at the Summit by the other countries.
The ALP statement added, "Spencer finds time to travel all over the world on fun trips but could not find the time to attend an extremely important meeting about a force arrangement with Europe that could lead to the economic enslavement of African Caribbean and Pacific countries.”
“Spencer who is well known for gallivanting all over the world, did not go to the ALP Summit because is a coward. He did not want to face the criticism of African and pacific Heads of State. How could he tell them that he has sold them out to Europe?" the statement added. | | | | Reads : 464 | | | |
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