BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A new “economic partnership” is in the works between Canada and the Caribbean Community which could effectively replace the expiring one-way free trade pact known as CaribCan.

That was the essential message sent at a news conference yesterday morning shared by visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Barbados’ Prime Minister, and current Caricom chairman Owen Arthur.

Speaking to the media at the Sherbourne Conference Centre ahead of a working lunch meeting with Arthur and other Caricom leaders who arrived between Wednesday and yesterday morning, Prime Minister Harper admitted to “a period of neglect” by his country to the Caribbean.

He said Canada was now looking forward to bringing a more meaningful dimension to a “shared commitment for a new economic partnership” which he had the opportunity to discuss with Prime Minister Arthur before sharing the press conference with him.

Arthur, however, said he could not announce details of what’s envisaged before the scheduled meeting with other Caricom leaders.

Speaking on behalf of Barbados and Caricom , Arthur said that he and his colleagues were in the process of “defining and refining” trade and economic relations with traditional partners such as Canada, USA and the European Union.

He stressed that this would be designed for “mutual benefits” and consistent with preserving Caribbean sovereignty and dignity.

He said, as discussed with United States President George W Bush in Washington last month, Caricom was keen to negotiate a new or enhanced and expanded Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and, likewise, for a fresh approach on what currently exists with Canada in the form of CaribCan.

While Canada was generous to sign on to CaribCan with its one-way free trade facility, Arthur said, that agreement must now be realistically replaced with a “more mature and modern” agreement with provisions for services, investment and dispute settlement procedures.

He added that he felt that the conditions and mood exist for a much improved “partnership agreement” between Canada and Caricom , and both sides should be in a position within the near future to announce the launch of new negotiations to start the process rolling.