International Community not involving CARICOM on Haiti’s future, says PM Douglas
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St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas with some of the Haitian nationals resident in the Federation. |
ST. KITTS, MARCH 11, 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has accused unnamed members of the international community of keeping the Caribbean out of plans for the redevelopment and reconstruction of earthquake ravaged Haiti.
Prime Minister Douglas, who is among Caribbean leaders now meeting in Dominica at the 21st CARICOM Inter-Sessional said the Haiti situation is on the agenda and he does not like the situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Republic.
He said CARICOM countries have done exceptionally well in terms of going into Haiti first and Jamaica must be commended and congratulated for is stance and the work it has done and the service its men have provided.
“We have a plan for Haiti. We want to emphasise to the international community that we cannot be kept out. There seems to be some plan afoot for those who are dealing with Haiti to simply ‘diss’ the Caribbean. CARICOM cannot be excluded from the solutions and the long-term development of Haiti. Haiti has a capacity within CARICOM,” said Prime Minister Douglas in a telephone interview with Caribbean Broadcaster Lennox Linton on Journey’s the popular early morning Talk Show on St. Kitts’ Sugar City Roc Thursday morning.
Dr. Douglas said that CARIVOM can provide the voice that Haiti in itself does not have and there is the capacity and the expertise in CARICOM.
“We understand what it means to go through disaster situations and Haiti is seen as a member of the Caribbean Community and CARICOM wants to use this Inter-Sessional to impress upon the minds of those who are leading the international financial institutions that the Caribbean Community has a voice on behalf of Haiti and nothing should take place in terms of Haiti’s future development unless we are at the centre of those activity,” Prime Minister Douglas said.