JAMAICA DELAYS PACT

Facing criticism from various quarters, Jamaica’s government Tuesday said it will hold off on plans to sign onto the new economic partnership agreement between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Grouping because of fears that some clauses could link aid to sexual preferences and other issues normally frowned upon by Jamaican society.

Representatives from more than 106 nations are in the Pacific nation of Samoa this week for Wednesday’s signing of the new Samoa Agreement that succeeds the Cotonou deal of the year 2000 that governs aid and trade relations between the two behemoth blocs.

Kingston had been set to sign the agreement and had already announced that it would have done so, but controversial Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamina Johnson Smith announced that the country will hold back on inking the deal as it continues to consult with local groups which fear some of the clauses relating to sexuality and a tolerance homosexuality could up end Jamaican sovereignty and local laws. No other Caribbean Community nation has so far publicly expressed plans not to sign or to postpone signing.

“Throughout the negotiations which concluded in 2021, the government had taken on board the views of the various stakeholders including members of civil society. After what was in fact three years of challenging negotiations, the government was satisfied that the language of the text in the final agreement would not supersede Jamaica’s domestic legislation. Notwithstanding, the government has taken note of concerns which continue to be raised by stakeholders in the domestic space, so we will continue consultations with the aim of providing assurances regarding the government’s unfailing intent to always protect the interest of Jamaica and Jamaicans with the laws of Jamaica as our guide,” Johnson Smith said.

The forced postponement comes amid mounting pressure and expressions of discomfort from civil society groups which were not enthralled by some clauses dealing with sexuality and the type of education that should be taught in schools.

Once such was the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS) which had expressed alarm that the new agreement “will bind Jamaica to undefined human rights obligations tied to trade sanctions, reintroduce comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) back into schools despite parents’ outrage in 2012 with regard to CSE’s sexualizing content; trap the nation in yet-to-be-negotiated international instruments, and demand the acceptance of terms that directly threaten citizens’ freedom of conscience and speech among other alarming concerns,” the body had said in a statement.

The civil society groups say they fear the definition of human rights references in the negotiated texts could link aid to societal and governmental acceptance of sexual practices which are frowned upon by Jamaican society including same sex marriages and homosexuality.

All this comes amid the recent brouhaha between the US and Jamaica over the refusal of Jamaica to accredit the same sex spouse of an American diplomat because local laws had not recognized such and as some sections of society refused to tolerate people with such sexual preferences.

Meanwhile, Minister Johnson Smith says Jamaica will continue to attend ministerial council meetings slated for this week also in Samoa while incorporating feedback “from a diverse range of stakeholders, including members of civil society.”  The EU is easily Jamaica’s largest grant donor for programs and projects under EU-ACP partnership agreements, officials said.