KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has said that the trade and economic opportunities presented by the Samoa Agreement will be beneficial for Jamaica.

But, he also said stakeholders must be assured that there is nothing in the Treaty that will contravene Jamaican law. Holness spoke to the issue on Sunday as he addressed the Jamaica Labour Party’s 80th annual conference at the National Arena.

Jamaica, at the last minute, did not sign the document on November 15, at the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU Ministerial meeting in Samoa.

The decision not to sign was made after the local Christian group, Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS), raised concerns that by signing the document, which it described as a “comprehensive new binding 20-year agreement with the European Union (EU),” it would reintroduce the rejected Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum back into Jamaican classrooms and undermine Jamaicans’ fundamental rights and freedoms.”

JCHS said the government was proceeding to sign despite strong pushback from several local citizens’ groups to what has been described as “the glaring danger of multiple clauses” in the agreement.

“The 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 regards to CSE’s sexualising 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,” JCHS said in a statement.

On Sunday, Holness said “as we pursue these opportunities, we must engage, explain and reassure our stakeholders of the various provisions in place to respect our values and laws as a sovereign country.”

He said Jamaica continues to be a reasonable and rational voice in international affairs.

Said the prime minister:“We continue to lead in global initiatives and treaties, whether in trade, finance or climate change. Whatever treaty obligations we negotiate or sign on to, it must be consistent with our laws and constitution and we must engage with local stakeholders within our democratic framework.”

Holness said this has been the approach of his government, “even as it is we’re determined and committed to ensure that our local financial system is robustly compliant with the international financial system, Financial Action Taskforce recommendations for anti-money laundering and other illicit activities.”

The prime minister said he wants Jamaica’s financial system to meet the highest international standards “as we believe that this will make Jamaica a stronger and safer destination for investment. So it is with the Samoa Treaty.”

While the EU representative in Jamaica has expressed surprise that Jamaica did not sign, Holness said Foreign Affairs Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith has already started the process of engaging stakeholders on the matter.

The Samoa Agreement, named for the tiny Polynesian island where the official signing took place, is the new European Union/Africa Caribbean Pacific (EU/ACP) Partnership Agreement. It replaces the Cotonou Agreement that expired in 2020. Countries will not derive benefit until they sign the agreement.