Haiti headache for CARICOM
Guest Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
July 8, 2004
THE decision on whether or not to begin political interaction with the interim administration in Haiti proved the most contentious issue at the just-concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Grenada.
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines was reported as saying that other leaders can talk with Gerard Latortue, but he would not be there and his colleagues will not be speaking for his country.
Dr Gonsalves said the Haiti government had been installed in Port-au-Prince by the Americans while ousting the legitimately elected administration of President Aristide.
Moreover, the Vincentian leader made the point that according to the Charter of Civil Society of CARICOM, governments of member states must be democratically elected to government. And Dr Gonsalves went on to observe the absence today of political freedom and democracy in Haiti.
President Bharrat Jagdeo was similarly determined that there should be no political interaction with Haiti given the circumstances of it coming to office.
St Lucia's Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, who has responsibility amongst CARICOM leaders for governance, was concerned about the constitutionality of the Port-au-Prince administration and the legality, beyond any social and economic considerations, of interaction with the administration.
And the St Lucian Prime Minister was adamant that CARICOM would not be hustled into supporting Mr Latortue by other countries and international organisations which have begun to engage Haiti.
Over on the other side, Prime Ministers Mitchell, Manning, Arthur and a few others are supportive of the view that CARICOM, having made its point in February about the questionable, at least, removal of Mr Aristide from office, felt the time has come to begin interaction with Mr Latortue as a means of bringing greater assistance to the people of Haiti.
Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell observed at the opening ceremony that his country went from constitutionality to unconstitutionality, and, with the assistance of the international community, returned to constitutionality. Haiti deserves a helping hand to return to the road of elected governance, says Dr Mitchell.
The Bahamian Government had the strongest possible motive for interacting at all times with whatever the government in office, says Prime Minister Perry Christie.
The scattered Bahamian chain of islands, geographically closest to Haiti, serves variously as stepping-stones for Haitian refugees on their way further north and as a final resort for thousands of Haitians and over a couple generations.
Mr Christie made the point that CARICOM operates on the basis of the so-called "Estrada Principle," recognising the country rather than the government.
It is, as Dr Anthony has said, a very complex issue, especially as expelling Haiti from CARICOM is not an option-there is no such provision in the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Moreover, Haiti is an indivisible part of the Caribbean cultural and social matrix; 200 years ago the Haitian Revolution freed a people and set the ground for the general abolition of slavery and the road to independent statehood for every country in the Caribbean.
At the opening ceremony, senior Prime Minister P.J. Patterson made the point that CARICOM had to be guided by the democratic principles outlined in the Charter of Civil Society; but he made the point that until and unless the charter becomes enshrined in law, Haiti had to be accepted and treated as a full member.
He, like Mr Manning, was sure that whatever decision is taken about the political treatment of Haiti, CARICOM had to be part of the social and economic rehabilitation inside Haiti.
(Adapted from yesterday's Trinidad 'Guardian')