. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/110
13 September 2003
(03-4901)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth SessionCancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Statement by H.E. Mr Ellsworth John
Ambassador to the United States
St. Vincent and the Grenadines wishes to express its sorrow to the Government and people of
Sweden at the tragic death of their beloved Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.  She was well loved and
respected by the people of her country for her genuine concern towards the improvement of her
country's social and economic development.
This Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference is taking place at a time when the United Nations is
about to meet in its General Assembly to address the challenges of regional conflicts, hunger, povertyand of course terrorism that threaten the very foundation of national and global security.  It also
comes at a time when the Caribbean region is challenged by the vagaries of the weather.
But it is not only the seasonal tropical storm that poses a threat to Caribbean small island
developing states such as my country St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  We are concerned about the
possibility of sliding down the slippery slope of undevelopment even as other regions and countriesdiscuss sustained economic growth and developed countries seek through multilateral institutions like
the WTO to increase an already sizeable share of the global market and wealth.  This concern is made
real by multilateral rules and disciplines that are insensitive to the needs and nature of Small Island
Developing Countries like ours.  In this regard, we must point out that paragraph 35 of the Doha
Declaration should be given full effect, for it must  be recognized that despite its good intention there
remain contradictions that must be examined so that the outcome of the work mandated therein is not
prejudged.
The potential of this august body in terms of its ability to influence our economic and even
political outcomes is profound.  However, successive Rounds have failed to deliver sustained
economic benefits and too many of our countries have been left in the margins of development.  The
mutually beneficial results promised in the Urugua y Round remain elusive to over two-thirds of the
one hundred and forty-eight Members.
The second paragraph in the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO gave recognition to
an international trade system that is fair and equi table when it is "conducted with a view to raising
living standards, ensuring full employment ... and steadily growing volume of real income". I
highlight the word "conducted" because it must be understood that the Rules and Disciplines guiding
these relations must give recognition to the levels of development of the constituents and thatinterpretations and operationalization of these rules and disciplines by all constituents must be in the
good spirit of the initial intent.  The widening economic gaps and progressive marginalization of the
majority since the Uruguay Round must be addressed and adequately reflected in the
Ministerial Statements coming out of this Fifth Ministerial Conference.
It is understood that many issues will continue to engage the attention of this Conference over
the rest of its five day duration.  We hope the following issues, which are of critical importance to us
and of course the wider Caribbean, will be given due attention.WT/MIN(03)/ST/110
Page 2
These include:
• The structural disadvantages and vulnerabilities of small developing economies,
in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• Work programme on small economies
• Special and Differential Treatment
• Trade Preferences
• Market access modalities
• Negotiations on agriculture
St. Vincent and the Grenadines therefore reaffirms the positions taken by various groups for
the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference such as the July 2003 Caribbean Community Declaration;  andthe Small Economies' Statement for the WTO Fifth Ministerial Conference;  and the Africa,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group;  ACP Trade Ministers Declaration adopted in Brussels, in
August 2003;  and call upon WTO Members to take actions necessary to address the issues and
concerns raised in these Declarations.
At Doha, strong pleas were made for the recognition of the special needs and vulnerabilities
of small island states.  We ended up with the text on " Small Economies" in the Doha Declaration that
was at best a modest compromise to gain the support of other countries, but it has been demonstrated
time and time again we are not just small economies;  we are small island states with peculiar
characteristics, needs and vulnerabilities.
We are therefore disappointed by the lack of appreciation by some countries for the acute
vulnerabilities of small island developing states and the consequent harmful implications of their
actions as they pursue their claims through WTO dispute settlement;  the insensitive manner in which
rulings have been implemented disregarding their damaging effects on the livelihoods of thousands of
farmers, agricultural employees and their dependents, as the ruling on bananas illustrates.  The current
dispute over sugar is another threat that c ould have extremely damaging economic and social
consequences for small island developing countries in the Caribbean.
The particular structural disadvantages and vulnerabilities of small developing economies, in
particular small island developing states (SIDS), must be taken into account in the formulation and
application of multilateral trade rules as well as in the liberalization undertakings required of these
countries, in order to avoid their further loss of market share and possible de-industrialization.
In the dismantling of tariffs, tariff escalation, non-tariff barriers and subsidies maintained by
developed countries, the highest priority should be accorded to products of export interests to small
island developing countries (SIDS) and LDCs, so as to avoid the unintended effects that such reforms
can have on the export earnings of these countries.  Adequate compensation mechanisms for these
countries to respond to consequential losses, as well as measures to assist them in their diversification
efforts should be devised.  At the same time, these countries must not be confronted with mandatorytariff reductions obligations that could result in severe fiscal dislocation for already resource-strapped
countries.  Trade liberalization has been driven by the notion of a "level playing field".  Mr Chairman,
in Ancient Rome, the lions and the people met on a level playing field.  We know what happened to
those people.  Let us not continue to relive that experience.  Let us provide for balance in outcomes.
This Conference gives us the opportunity to refocus the activities and works in line with the
Doha Agenda and to ensure that development becomes an operative word in the Doha Agenda.
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