Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, during their 22nd Conference, engaged in an exchange of views on the political crisis in the Republic of Haiti, which emanated from the 21 May 2000 elections in that country.
Haiti
The Member States of the Caribbean Community have followed with continued interest, the evolution of the political crisis in Haiti. They did so against the background of the Region's continued concern about the political crisis in that country and the impact of that crisis on the Haitian people, whose democratic, social and economic aspirations it holds dear.
1. The Caribbean Community has been engaged with Haiti for a long time, as that country is part of the Caribbean sub-region. Haiti has also applied for full membership of the Caribbean Community and Common Market.
2. CARICOM Heads of Government have agreed to the establishment of a CARICOM Office in Haiti to support Haiti´s membership of the Community and I am pleased to inform that that staff will leave Georgetown this week-end to commence operations of that office, which will be housed in the Embassy of The Bahamas in Haiti.
The Joint OAS/CARICOM Mission to Haiti, led by Secretary General Cesar Gaviria and former Dominican Prime Minister, Dame Eugenia Charles, will visit Port-au-Prince from May 29 to 31, 2001.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, the current Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria agreed to join efforts of the OAS and CARICOM on Haiti into a Joint Mission to be led by Gaviria and former Dominican Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles.
Foundations of co-operation have been laid with other missions who are in Guyana to observe the 2001 General elections. This was stated by Chief of the CARICOM Observer Mission to Guyana, Justice R. Carl Rattray at a Press Conference today Thursday March 15 hosted by Secretary General of CARICOM, Mr Edwin Carrington at the CARICOM Secratriat in Georgetown.
The Conference_
Having engaged in deep and wide-ranging exchange of views with His Excellency Jean-Bertrand Aristide, newly-elected President of Haiti on political developments in that country;
Having been assured by His Excellency of his commitment to take such action, as lies within his authority, to address certain concerns arising from the 21 May 2000 elections, especially regarding the election of Senators, and, having also been assured of his determination to establish a new Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP);
Mr. Chairman,
I thank the delegation of Haiti for the statement made to the Permanent Council on the recent elections in Haiti.
The position of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, has been expressed to this august body on several occasions. CARICOM's engagement with Haiti is a matter of great importance to the Region.
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General.
Mr. Assistant Secretary-General,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, the following statement on the region's position on Haiti following recent political developments in that country.
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Assistant Secretary General,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Delegates,
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been closely monitoring the political and electoral events in Haiti leading up to and following the elections on 21 May and 9 July 2000.