problem compiling GRIB API

Hello,

I am trying to compile the GRIB API which is needed for pygrib. I have a
RHEL6 64 bit machine. I have the latest Jasper installed but when I try to
compile I get an error:

/usr/bin/ld: /usr/local/lib/libjasper.a(jas_stream.o): relocation
R_X86_64_32S against `.data' can not be used when making a shared object;
recompile with -fPIC
/usr/local/lib/libjasper.a: could not read symbols: Bad value
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make[2]: *** [libgrib_api.la] Error 1

So I did:

export CFLAGS="-02 -fPIC"
echo $CFLAGS

acccording to your web site instructions and then ran configure again. It
still complains and says to re-compile with CFLAG set to -fPIC.

So am going round and round.

Can you please help me?
Thanks,
Ron