The historic signing of the Samoa Agreement in Apia this week has got off to a bumpy start with the withdrawal of the Caribbean nation Jamaica, according to media reports. 

The Samoa Government, as the host of the signing scheduled for this coming Wednesday has been flagging its significance, as it will succeed the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. It covers six thematic areas including democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security and migration and mobility. 

However, media reports from Jamaica have quoted the Jamaican Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith as saying that Jamaica will put off its signing of the post-Cotonou Agreement in Samoa (Samoa Agreement) this week to undertake further consultation. 

According to the Jamaica Observer, Minister Johnson Smith is of the view that her government will need to undertake more consultations until they are satisfied that the language in the text of the Samoa Agreement "would not supersede Jamaica’s domestic legislation".

“Throughout the negotiations which concluded in 2021, the Government had taken on board the views of the various stakeholders including members of Civil Society," said Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister. "After what was in fact three years of challenging negotiations, the government was satisfied that the language of the text in the final Agreement would not supersede Jamaica’s domestic legislation. 

"Notwithstanding, the Government has taken note of concerns which continue to be raised by stakeholders in the domestic space, so we will continue consultations with the aim of providing assurances regarding the government’s unfailing intent to always protect the interest of Jamaica and Jamaicans with the laws of Jamaica as our guide."

Reports by Jamaica Observer highlighted concerns raised by "several citizen groups" about multiple clauses in the Samoa Agreement that they claimed would bind Jamaica to the following: undefined human rights obligations tied to trade sanctions (Art.101(7) General Pact), reintroduce Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) back into schools despite parents’ outrage in 2012 with regards to CSE’s sexualising content (Art. 48(7), Caribbean Pact); trap the nation in yet-to-be-negotiated international instruments (Art.36(2) General Pact), and demand the acceptance of terms that directly threaten citizens’ freedom of conscience and speech (Art. 9(2) and Art. 20(1), General Pact).

Negotiations between the EU and ACP member states, which arrived at the Apia Agreement, began in 2018 with the proposed agreement's text signed off in 2021. It is believed over 500 delegates will attend the official signing at the National Multipurpose Gymnasium at Tuanaimato. The ACP Group comprises 48 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific.