Present situation in Haiti
■ CARICOM Heads of Government continue to be gravely
concerned at the deteriorating political, economic,
social and security situation in Haiti.
■ Haiti remains a full member of CARICOM, but there are
certain criteria which representatives must meet in
order to participate within the Councils of CARICOM.
■ These criteria include respect for democratic principles,
human rights and the rule of law, and good
governance. They are enshrined in the CARICOM
Charter of Civil Society.
■ CARICOM remain committed to the welfare of the
Haitian people. It continues to be engaged with Haitian
in a number of ways, including the provision of
humanitarian assistance in the wake of the recent
natural disasters.
■ The Task Force established by CARICOM to coordinate
the Region's efforts in assisting Haiti, has already
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drawn up a programme of assistance to be
implemented once stability is restored. This includes,
among other things, technical assistance in · the
electoral process and institutional building.
■ A Memorandum of Understanding has already been
signed between the United Nations and the
Organization of American States, setting out the terms
and conditions under which they will help the Haitian
Provisional Electoral Council to organise, monitor and
conduct free and fair elections (municipal,
parliamentary and presidential), and the establishment
of an Electoral Cooperation Committee, of which
CARICOM will be a member.
■ At the bilateral level, individual CARICOM Member
States, including Jamaica and the Bahamas have
maintained diplomatic relations with Haiti.
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..
• CARICOM is also actively involved in international
efforts to find a solution to the political problems of
Haiti, (wherein are the roots of many of that country's
other problems).
• In particular, CARICOM is currently in consultation with
a number of other countries in this Hemisphere, we are
working with the Rio Group, international initiative,
aimed, as a first step, at reducing political tensions and
instability in Haiti, and at promoting dialogue among all
groups.
• As part of that process, CARICOM Foreign Ministers
have been mandated to meet with the Foreign Minister
of Brazil, whose country is leading this new initiative, to
further define CARICOM's role in this latest
international effort. This meting will take place later
this month.
■ The Foreign Minister's report will be the basis for
further deliberations and directives by Heads.
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