Page2 SectionB The Abaconian September 15, 2008 EPA will encourage free trade with Europe By Jennifer Hudson The Hon. Zhivargo Laing, Minister of State for Finance, visited Abaco on August 25 to educate people on the proposed Eco- nomic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the impact it will have for The Bahamas. He spoke at two town meetings, one at Cooper’s Town in the afternoon followed by one in the evening in the Anglican Par- ish Hall in Marsh Harbour. In addition to Nassau, town meetings have already been held on Exuma and Grand Bahama. “The role of the Economic Partnership Agreement is to establish a trade agree- ment between the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM,” stated Min. Laing. CARIFORUM consists of all the countries of CARICOM plus the Dominican Repub- lic. “It outlines the rules that will govern the import and export of goods and servic- es between the EU and CARIFORUM. It is good that I can be here to share the facts of the agreement so that you can decide for yourself what your view is.” Negotiations for the EPA began in Brus- sels on September 27, 2002, which has al- lowed for five years of negotiation. The agreement signing was slated for Septem- ber 2 but Mr. Laing said that The Bahamas has been given a six-month extension after the signing of the agreement to present the country’s services schedule. The reason for this extension is beacuse there was a change in government during that time which has not allowed sufficient time for the preparation of the offer it is prepared to make. Each country makes its own of- fer within the EPA’s three-tiered structure which is ¢ Main Text - Common Obligations ¢ Protocols- Custom’s Cooperation, Rules of origin, Culture e Schedules - Goods, Services, Investment “The services schedule represents the commitments The Bahamas is making to the EU and CARIFORUM with respect to trade and services. The Bahamas services offer covers 128 of the 155 sectors consid- ered under the EPA. There are 11 specific sectors, namely business services, commu- A meeting to explain a trade agreement, the Economic Partnership Agreement, was held in the Anglican Parish Hall in Marsh Harbour with the Hon. Zhivargo Laing, Minister of State for Finance, outlining the basic points of the agreement. nication services, construction and related engineering services, distribution services, education services, environmental servic- es, financial services, health related and social services, tourism and travel related services, recreational, sporting and cultural and transportation services. The services offer mirrors that of the National Investment Policy which reserves 13 sectors exclusively for Bahamians in- cluding wholesale and retail sector, import/ export trade, real estate, public relations firms, domestic newspapers and maga- zines, nightclubs and restaurants excepting specialty, gourmet and ethnic restaurants or those in a hotel or resort, security ser- vices, cosmetic and beauty establishments, distribution of building supplies, auto and appliance service operations, public trans- portation including mail boats and shallow water scale fish, mollusk crustacean and sponge fishing operations. “The EPA is a Free Trade Agreement between countries trying to reduce rules and make it easier to trade,” explained Minister Laing. Its benefits will be the fol- lowing: ¢ Protect and preserve existing duty free marketing accessibility for goods (such as fish and rum) to the world’s second most lu- Please see EPA Page 20 This 9,732 sq ft wooded lot is the largest in Little Poin a relatively new subdivision just South of lope Town. oO Only a few minutes walk from one of the most beautiful beaches on ElbowCay. = _E A paved road and electricity have already been put in place. oo TRA Dupuch Rool Estate For additional information call — Ricky Sweeting Tel: (242) 366-0193 + Cell: (242) 577-0254 + Email: ricky@erabahamas.com Ph: 242-367-323 | Fax: 242-367-3233 Cell: 242-458-2446 Sea Star Building (beside Maxwell’s) Marsh Harbour Perry Thomas Endless Summer #508, Eastern Shores, 2 story, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath- rooms. 210° water frontage, 80’ dock, 6’ low water, 9,000 Ib. boat lift. Cypress ceiling and in- terior walls, laundry room, single car garage, carport, 15 KW back- up generator. $1.5 million net Triplex #504, one three-bedroom two-bathroom that is 1950 sq ft on the top floor and 2 Two- bedroom one-bath apartments on the bottom floor, property is 90 x 100 Appraised at $ 440,000 This month sales price $434,600 Duplex and house #507 two 2-bedroom one-bath apartments i and house with 2 bed and | bath. Sold together. Priced at $307,400 purchase a restaurant that is ready to go with all the necessary equipment needed to operate this lovely building, has sea views, is on 100’x120’ lot. Priced $424,000. Buyer will pay 5% gov. stamp tax and own legal fees. Four bedroom, 4 bathroom house, #505 with covered back : patio, covered entryway with huge columns. House is 4,000 sq. ft. situated on 1/4 acre of property in Bahama Palm Shores. Central air condition- ing, Jacuzzi tub in master bath. Appraised at $600,000 REDUCED $402,800 Agape Villa Murphy Town #503 Two free standing structures containing four one-bedroom, one bathroom apartment units that are fully furnished with central air conditioning. Sits on 15,000 sq. ft. — Landscaped. All units are rented. REDUCED -D $210, 000 net. Person ‘india this will have an instant business. Three bedroom, two bathroom home, #500 fully furnished, central air conditioning, on 9,000 sq. ft Landscaped with beautiful trees and lawn. Rented. REDUCED $185,000. Can be sold separately or with above property. up eee Town #501 2 story, 2 bedroom | bath up and down. $160,000 net Three unit townhouse #502 each unit is 1500 sq ft and fully furnished. Located behind John Bull in Marsh Harbour. Great rental income. Sale price $650,000 net. oN DPA is) Duplex, 2 I-bed, I-bath apts. off Forest Drive in Dundas Town $140,000 Visit our other fine properties at: www.addlerrealtyabaco.com Osbourne Stuart, cRs, CRES, BRI, S¥C Broker, Appraiser, President with 19 years experience Perry Thomas, BRI Salesman and Rentals, Marsh Harbour branch with 10 years experience Call Adler Realty to have your next appraisal done Rent your apartment or find an apartment to rent.We can help. Great Cistern Estates - Nine lots for sale in new gated community in Great Cistern, Abaco. Residential only Lot A 8,491 sf $67,928 gross Lot F_ 11,741 sf $93,928 gross Lot B 11,759 sf $94,072 gross Lot G 10,868 sf $86,944 gross Lot C 8,800 sf $70,400 gross Lot H 12,514 sf $100,112 gross Lot D 8,676 sf $69,408 gross Lot! 10,474 sf $83,792 gross Lot E 12,010 sf $96,080 gross For sale three lots located on South Lubbers Quarters in the Abaco Ocean Club Estate. Lots number II, 44, 112. These lots are priced individually. 11,022 Lot #44 13,307 sf $98,000 gross Lot # 112 20,485 sf. $175,000 gross For sale 15 acres of land at Baker’s Heights near Leisure Lee off the Treasure Cay Highway. Priced at $450,000 , this property will go fast. Call today. Triplex 3 - | bed/I bath in Murphy Town $160,000 Two lots 84 ft. x 100 ft. near Treasure Cay, one mile northwest of Treasure Cay School. $55,000 each net Two lots for sale located on hillside in Yellow- woodProperty adjacent to The Abaco Club on Winding Bay Lot# 7 G3 size 12,600 s.f. $63,000 gross Lot # 7 G4 size 12,600 s.f. $63,000 gross Duplex for sale off Forest Drive in Murphy Town 2 two bedroom, one bath $185,500 net Triplex for sale Murphy Town 2? one-bedroom, one-bath and | two-bedroom, one-bath. $145,000 net 6 lots in Marsh Harbour off Don MacKay Blvd. 4 lots 10,286.1 sq. ft. $59,659 each 2 lots 12,086.1 sq. ft. $70,099 each 5 lots in Murphy Town, water view, across from Abaco Block and Concrete, could be commercial, 56,260 sq. ft. Sold together $253,171 Sold separately 3 lots $48,614 each, | at $48,730, | at $106,745 Hillside lot in Yellow Wood with view of Winding Bay Beach and ocean view, lot size 120 x 90. Gross price $145,000