BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MARCH 2ND 2004) – St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Foreign Affairs and Education is representing Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas at this afternoon’s Emergency Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government to discuss the current situation in Haiti.
Prime Minister Douglas has been kept up to date on the situation in the French Republic in the Caribbean by his Jamaican counterpart, Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson.
The Jamaican leader had questioned whether the resignation of the Haitian President, Jean Bertrand Aristide was truly voluntary.
Afro-American activist Mr. Randall Robinson has also related to Prime Minister Douglas a telephone conversation he had with President Aristide, who has indicated that he was forced to leave his nation. The United States has denied statements that President Aristide was forced to leave Haiti or kidnapped.
Prime Minister Douglas said the situation is unclear and every effort will be made to get the facts during the emergency meeting of CARICOM Heads in Jamaica this afternoon attended by Dr. Harris.
Prime Minister Douglas and Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Sam Condor are unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments at home.
Meanwhile, the CARICOM Chairman in a statement released from the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) said the removal of President Aristide in these circumstances sets a dangerous precedent for democratically elected Governments anywhere and everywhere, as it promotes the removal of duly elected persons from office by the power of rebel forces.
Prime Minister Patterson said at no point in time was the CARICOM Action Plan predicated on the unconstitutional removal of President Aristide from Office. The Action Plan, endorsed by the International Community, was based on the precepts of shared government, binding both President Aristide and the legitimate Opposition to specific commitments, which would eventually lead to a political solution in accordance with the Constitution of Haiti and result in a peaceful settlement of the crisis and the promotion of the democratic process.
“Any suggestions therefore that CARICOM was a party to a plan or was in consultation or had subscribed to the removal of President Aristide from office, as a prior condition, would be in complete contradiction to the long held CARICOM position that the removal of the constitutionally elected President by unconstitutional means could not be supported by the CARICOM Community,” said the Jamaican leader.
Mr. Patterson said that with the removal of President Aristide from Office, the Constitution of Haiti provides that the Chief Justice, subsequent to his affirmation by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, would now act as President.
“The non-existence of a Parliament in Haiti would bring into question the constitutionality of the arrangement as reported. It further underlines why the CARICOM Action Plan sought to promote a framework which would permit the elections to parliament that would be free and fair, as soon as the requisite conditions were in place,” said Patterson.
He said the situation which currently exists in Haiti and the circumstances which led to it raise grave issues which the Caribbean Community now needs to address.
“CARICOM’s response to the installation of a regime in Haiti brought about by a capitulation to armed groups. The fact that the political solution as envisaged under the CARICOM Action Plan is no longer possible and the Community’s reaction to any further plan of action by the International Community and the possible increase in the number of Haitians who might leave and how this situation ought to be handled from here on,” said Prime Minister Patterson.
He added that in light of the gravity of the situation and the immediate issues to be dealt with, the emergency meeting of CARICOM Heads will be convened in Jamaica on Tuesday, 2 March 2004.
The Jamaican Prime Minister said CARICOM in the meantime, continues to deplore the continued breakdown of law and order in Haiti, the loss of lives and the wanton damage to property. CARICOM has no desire to abandon the people of Haiti and would wish to see the quick restoration of peace and stability in that country, and the earliest return to constitutional democracy.
