KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit says he was “touched by the level of commitment” displayed by the commitment of the region’s emergency response team in Haiti.
“They have made all of us in CARICOM extremely proud, they have gone down there, they have established themselves and they have established the CARICOM post in Haiti,” Skerrit told reporters here after a brief visit to the earthquake-ravaged country on Saturday.
Skerrit, who is Dominica’s Prime Minister, said although the regional team is a small contingent compared to those of other international agencies “the entire Haitian community is feeling the presence of the Caribbean Community there”.
“I believe that at the appropriate time the Caribbean Community must recognise formally the efforts of everybody who is there. I am very very touched by the level of commitment, dedication and the network that they have created for themselves in parts of Haiti where other international agencies have not entered,” he added.
While in Port-au-Prince, Skerrit and the other members of the CARICOM delegation met with President Rene Préval and other officials to update them on how the regional grouping plans to continue helping Haitians recover from a catastrophic earthquake on January 12 that caused widespread devastation and killed 200,000 people.
He added that the meeting gave Préval the opportunity to state how he wanted CARICOM to assist, especially in negotiations with the international community.
“Haiti is depending on CARICOM to provide them with that support with the international community and to ensure that at every stage Haiti’s sovereignty and Haiti’s views in respect to what Haiti wants will come to the fore.
“As it is now, there are a number of institutions and organisations who are making a pitch to lead the way in regards to Haiti’s reconstruction and building the new Haiti. President Preval has reiterated his willingness and his view of what CARICOM should be doing in regards to international advocacy,” said the Dominican leader.
The visit by the CARICOM delegation came as the world’s richest countries pledged to cancel debts owed to it by Haiti, which was already the Western hemisphere’s poorest country ahead of the quake.
The decision by the Group of Seven (G7) countries was announced by Canadian finance minister, Jim Flaherty, at a meeting in northern Canada on Saturday.
“We are committed in the G7 to the forgiveness of debt, in fact all bilateral debt has been forgiven by G7 countries vis-a-vis Haiti,” Flaherty said at the end of a two-day meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, urging international lending agencies to follow suit.
“The debt to multilateral institutions should be forgiven, and we will work with these institutions and other partners to make this happen as soon as possible,” he added.
most it not all of these so call caricom people in haiti are jamaican volunteers…even the JDF personnal..
all caricom can do is talk talk…jamaican hospitals are on standby from from 1/13/10 to take in haitians…
unlike BARDADOS who said NO TO A REQUEST by the USA to take in some critical haitians…i am not surprised by the bajans actions …they talk a good talk…also the ja gov.would not could not pull out of haiti at this time…they wore showing the world that some caricom states was not doing their part and it
was just jamaica on the ground in haiti representnig caricom…jamaica is in this for the long term with or with out caricom…even taking in large numbers of haitians…after all they are just like us….they are jamaicans…
I wonder why some people are trying to turn this into a “Skerrit issue?” It has nothing to do with Skerrit, He just happened to be the chairman of CARICOM when the terrible catastrophe occurred in Haiti (the chairmanship of CARICOM rotates all the time).
it is no secret that CARICOM is a confederation of small, struggling, third-world nations without the resources of the big boys. Despite this since the earthquake CARICOM has moved 95 tonnes of canned foods, 41 tonnes of water and approximately four tonnes of medical supplies to Haiti. In addition response team from CARICOM has attended to over 3,000 people since the quake.
It might sound small but in a nation suffering such hardship at this time, it is more than welcome.
@justwondering, Jamaica may withdraw its contingent of soldiers but CARICOM’s effort is not going to stop. CARICOM is about to set up a mobile clinic in Haiti to assist.
We need to stop looking at the negatives.
(Soles Again). Please people, can you all just read before commenting, this is not abut the PM, its about a dedicated caribbean team in Haiti, putting everything on the line to assist the people of Haiti. Its not the PM in Haiti okay. Just read.
And by the way did you all look at Carib Vision the day the PM was in the meeting in Santo Domingo right after the earthquake. Was he and the others allowed to enter Haiti???? Why were they kept in Santo Dominigo. This time he was involved, It was carried live.
PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES PEOPLE.
Brothers and Sisters, what else can we say to the efforts of the Caricom family to the Haitians plights
although it can be said that there is some hindrance by the BIGGER players. WELL DONE so far although with limited resources. CHAPS have you noticed/observed that DOMINICA was the first Country even before the USA to grant the HAITIANS temporary immunity from deportation.
I hope PM Skerrit heard the position that Jamaica announced, that they may have to withdraw their contingent because of the lack of Caricom financial support. No wonder Dominica, despite all that was said on the subject matter, havent sent any real contingent to assist. By the way the Prime Minister announced that Dominica would be sending 30 men. Iwonder how many men volunteered to go.
You guys still on that UWP nonsense……..election is over…move on already
you go my P.M. You make us proud in Dominica. You can mingle with the best and show true leadership. I sincerely believe you are a good person with a great empathy. May God continue to bless you sir. You are truly a good person with a good heart. Much love. I pray for you every night.
favourite pm in the world
let the work press and media know what we are doing in Haiti all you hear is about the international countries on CNN, we need to be high lighted world wide too.
well have to do better than that we must talk to our pm skerrit and still vote uwp