Rose meets European Parliamentarian
WINFA is continuing its lobbying efforts on behalf of banana farmers in the Windward Islands. On Friday, Feb. 20, WINFA Coordinator, Mr. Renwick Rose, visited the Scottish offices of the European Parliament, in Edinburgh.

There, Mr. Rose held discussions with a Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Martin, on prospects for the European banana regime in 2009, as well as the likely impact of the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Mr. Martin, who is also the Vice-President of the Socialist Group, has been very active in the Parliamentary Group in advocating greater development support for countries which have signed the EPA. His Group and their Parliamentary allies are trying to get the European Parliament to adopt a Resolution to this effect. This includes calling for the provision of a two billion euro fund to assist Caribbean and other ACP states to adjust to the EPA, to diversify their economies and build their productive capacities. The Resolution is due to face a vote in that Parliament next Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

The WINFA coordinator gave Mr. Martin a first-hand report on the situation in the Caribbean, particularly in relation to the agricultural sector and the problems facing farmers. He expressed thanks to the Socialist Group and other supportive groups in the European Parliament, (the Greens, for example), for their efforts on behalf of the people of the ACP countries and encouraged them to continue in this regard.

Mr. Martin reiterated his group’s support for the ACP cause and pledged their efforts to make the EPA more an instrument of development and for eradicating poverty.

Mr. Rose and two Fairtrade farmers, Ms. Stephanie Joachim of Dominica and Mr. Cornelius Lynch of St. Lucia, are currently attending Fairtrade Fortnight in Britain which was officially launched on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Source: Renwick Rose, Coordinator, WINFA