Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressing a special sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

CANADIAN PRIME Minister Stephen Harper has urged Jamaica to play the lead role the establishing a free-trade agreement between Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

His comments came yesterday at a joint sitting of Jamaica's Houses of Parliament, where Harper, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller heaped praises on the security forces for their professional approach to resolving the hostage crisis in Montego Bay, St James.

Harper, the first Canadian prime minister to address Jamaica's Parliament, said the time was right for Canada and CARICOM to enter into a free-trade agreement.

He said despite the challenges of the global economic recession, the Caribbean should move now to clinch new opportunities.

Prime Minister Harper said Jamaica was uniquely positioned, as a senior member of CARICOM, to lead the way in ensuring that the region was a full part of the global economic system.

"Let us resolve today to cut through the bureaucratic, diplomatic and political red tape and move forward on a CARICOM-Canada free-trade agreement, let's get it done," Harper said to resounding applause.

Beneficial

He said free trade would be mutually beneficial to Jamaica and Canada and would send a strong signal of unity in the Americas. Harper said that the countries in the hemisphere had spent far too much time fighting the "Cold War all over again".

Commenting on Jamaica's 2030 vision for becoming a developed nation, Harper said his country was committed to supporting Jamaica "every step of the way".

The Canadian head of state pledged to meet with Golding today to discuss the security challenges that confront the region.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com