Prime Minister Andrew Holness
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A report from Peter Richards of the Caribbean Media Corporation
CARICOM sources say Prime Minister Andrew Holness stormed out a meeting at the 40th Annual Heads of Government summit in Castries, St. Lucia on Thursday.
Mr. Holness apparently disagreed with his regional colleagues on the position adopted on the contribution to be made by the so-called developed countries of CARICOM.
The Prime Minister supposedly indicated that Jamaica has financial issues to deal with and noted that a decision had been made some years ago that the country would not be part of the second tranche payment to the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).
The CDF is mandated to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in CARICOM.
Informed sources say Jamaica is questioning the accuracy of report of previous meetings on the matter.
Jamaica's position is reportedly to opt out of making a contribution to the CDF at this time.
However, some Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts-Nevis contend that Jamaica cannot opt out and that it is an obligation of each member by way of treaty.
Further, sources say that the other Caribbean countries argue that if Jamaica cannot pay at this time, they should acknowledge that they owe and make it a debt payable.
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