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Contact:
John Emmanuel
Friday, March 12, 2004 - Prime Minister and CARICOM’s point man on
governance, Honourable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has spoken on the situation in the
trouble Caribbean nation of Haiti. Dr. Anthony recently returned home from a
CARICOM review meeting on the matter, following talks with South African
President Thabo Mbeki, and the ousted Haitian Leader Jean Bertrand Aristide.
On Thursday, March 11, 2004 the St. Lucian leader told reporters that the way
forward would among other things need to involve quick confidence building
measures and the arrangement of elections at the soonest. “I think this is very
important and it’s one of the areas in which CARICOM can help Haiti,” said Dr.
Anthony. He explained that whereas St. Lucia and it’s CARICOM partners would not
participate in any multi-national force led by the United States, Canada and
France in Haiti, CARICOM was willing to provide support if requested, to help
organize the electoral machinery there.
Prime Minister Anthony pointed to a dire need for aid to be channelled to the
poverty stricken country. He described the poverty level in the neighbouring
Caribbean country as heart wrenching. “When people in St. Lucia and the
Caribbean speak of poverty, I don’t think they have any idea how those Haitians
leave”, he lamented. Based on that fact, Dr. Anthony said it was important that
the international community react by giving Haiti as much support as possible.
“They need to un-choke the pipelines and allow the money and investment to flow
into the country.”
CARICOM, Dr. Anthony said was willing play a lead role in dealing with issues of
poverty and other social stresses facing Haiti, albeit under a humanitarian
umbrella and not by way of active participation. CARICOM as a grouping he
explained, was also at this point not is a position to address the recognition
issue of Haiti’s newly installed interim regime. “The fact of the matter is that
there are certain principles that govern political behaviour which we all
subscribe to. We have articulated those principles in a charter of civil
society, which clearly indicates how governments should change. As a region, we
fully support the observance of fundamental rights along with the role and
involvement of opposition in the political process,” said Prime Minister
Anthony.
Admitting that the latest developments in Haiti may have done much in boosting
relations between the US, and it’s long time partners Canada and France, Dr.
Anthony said the US’ role in the matter may have place further strain on
US/CARICOM relations. Notwithstanding that, Prime Minister Anthony explained
that efforts were already underway aimed at healing any diplomatic damaged.
Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Julian R. Hunte now based at the United
Nations is said to be leading St. Lucia’s efforts along that front. Concerning
Haiti’s role in the regional grouping, Dr. Anthony expressed the view that from
all indications Haiti was here to stay.
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