Antigua – Barbuda is getting support of Caricom
Caricom stands by Antigua in its ongoing row with the United States on online gambling. Antigua’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said that after having submitted a claim against the United States his country wanted to sit with the Americans to negotiate an agreement. Antigua argues that America’s stand against online gambling hurts the Caribbean island’s economy and is against international trading regulations. “We recognise that the United States may have some concerns but we believe they could be addressed, provided that they accept the principle that we have the right to trade with the United States in financial services (in accordance with) WTO regulations, which the United States of America has signed on to,” Spencer said yesterday. He added that Antigua had also gained the support of the European Community, Japan, Costa Rica and China on this issue. Speaking at a Press briefing during the 28th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference at Hilton Barbados, Spencer said the CARICOM position was that Antigua’s position should be supported and the final communiqué should reflect this. 
“The view of CARICOM is that this issue really goes beyond Antigua and Barbuda – it has to do with the whole concept of trading in services. Other CARICOM territories are pushing very much into the area of financial services. “If the US were to be let off totally on this, it could jeopardise this, because right now some of the jurisdictions in the region, including Barbados, Antigua and a number of others, are considered tax havens and would fall under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s harmful taxation list. It has some very serious implications,” Spencer added. He said the issue went beyond gaming because it could affect other areas of investment and they wanted every level of support they could get from other international agencies and countries.