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TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS ON HAITI
BY PRIME MINISTER P.J. PATTERSON,
CHAIRMAN OF CARICOM AT PRESS CONFERENCE,
NASSAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, BAHAMAS,
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2004
We are here to contribute to the solution of the political impasse, which
has developed in one of our member states which happens to be the
newest member of CARICOM and yet is the : oldest nation among us,
celebrating this year the bicentenary of its independence.
As we all know, Haiti has passed through decades of political turbulence ·
and is now seeking to build a democracy. We feel that we have an
/ obligation as one family to contribute to contribute whatever we can to
assist in that effort. We have been working within the framework of the
Organisation of American States and CARICOM has been very fully
involved. We concluded that the time had come for us to launch an
initiative of our own which we do not confine to ourselves. The initiative
embraces other governments and organisations which we believe can help
to contribute to a meaningful solution and I include the OAS itself, and the
governments of Canada and of the United States, all of whom are sending
representatives to this meeting. As Chairman of CARICOM, I will be
assisted by the host Prime Minister, the Hon. Perry Christie and the Prime
Minister of Trinidad and Tobago - who is already here - the Hon. Patrick
Manning, who in the Community has a special responsibility for security
matters. Unfortunately, due to other pressing engagements in the region,
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Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, in charge of governance will not be able to
join us on this occasion.
Our primary objective in the meeting is to have dialogue with the
opposition groups and representatives of the Church, the private sector
and other elements of civil society. We had a fact-finding mission in Haiti
within the last fortnight. They have made a report to us. We took the
opportunity of our meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, to meet with President
Aristide in the margins of that meeting and we have indicated to him
certain areas of concerns and certain things which we believe will need to
be done on the government side to facilitate an early and effective
resolution.
The report already reflects many of the main complaints and grievances of
the opposition groups. We want to afford them an opportunity not only of
communicating with the leadership of CRICOM directly but perhaps of
greater importance, indicating what solutions they contemplate.
We hope that at the end of this meeting we will be able to meet thereafter
with President Aristide and Fanmi Lavalas. We have not yet set a time or a
place for that meeting, but we hope that following the dialogue between
both sides we can contribute to building the bridge of trust and confidence
which we see as essential to the resolution of the problems there.
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In all we do we have to recognise that the Haitian people themselves have
to be willing to engage in a final and effective solution to the problems and
whatever we do we have to respect the sovereignty of Haiti as a nation
state. We also expect that Haiti understands that we have a Charter of
Civil Society in the Caribbean Community to which all member states are
expected to adhere.
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS
If a solution is to be reached both sides have to be willing to give
something. If both remain inflexible, adamant, rigid in their position, then
there is not the likelihood or even the possibility of an acceptable
compromise.
Our ultimate concern is contributing to the nurturing of democracy in Haiti.
The Constitution of Haiti was framed by the people of Haiti themselves.
We expect whatever happens must be within the realm of the
Constitutional provisions. Their system provides for a President, a Prime
Minister who has certain clear responsibilities, a legislature. At the present
time only one-third of the Senate is properly constituted because the other
2/3 would have vacated office with the effluxion of time. So, some
elections are going to be necessary in Haiti; and one would want to create
the calm environment and the electoral framework within which elections
can be held and the results can be accepted not only by the international
community but by the people of Haiti themselves.
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I would not wish at this stage to be disclosing the specifics that we have
put to President Aristide. What I would say is that we have impressed
upon him that his actions must at all times be consistent with both the
letter and spirit of the Haitian Constitution, that in accordance with the
provisions of the Charter of Civil Society within the Community, there must
be certain fundamental freedoms which are protected and preserved.
We also want to ensure that the judiciary is able to perform its duties in an
effective way and that the security forces are also in a position to maintain
law and order in a manner that is not oppressive but has the proper regard
for the legitimate right of citizens to be engaged in peaceful and orderly
protest.
To a very large extent, these problems began with the last elections held
during the regime of President Preval. CARICOM tried to effect a method
by which that problem could have been resolved. With the effluxion of
time it was not, and then came the subsequent elections and certainly
questions have been raised relating to the election of Senators. The fact is
that as of now 2/3 of the Senate does not exist, neither legally nor
judicially and elections need to be held for that complement. We want to
see the electoral machinery in place -which may require some external
assistance, which we will have to be willing to provide - that will enable the
conduct of election that are free and fair and without the taint of violence.
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The Caribbean Community is not responsible for the electoral choices
within any member state. We deal with the Government that has been
elected by the people. If I may illustrate, in the case of the Bahamas,
there was a Government in place, we dealt with that Government, it made
a meaningful contribution to all our deliberations. The Government has
changed in the Bahamas, we deal with the Government of the Bahamas.
The same applies whether it is the Government of which President Aristide
is the present head, or President Preval, the former head - whoever may
be Constitutionally elected by the people of Haiti. That however, must not
be confused with our obligation and our insistence that whatever the
government may be, however led, whatever its political complexion maybe,
it must conform to the Charter of Civil Society, which is a condition
precedent for membership in the Caribbean Community.
Our ultimate concern as a Community is the welfare of the people within
each member state. We all believe in democratic pluralism. What we want
to ensure is that in a country like Haiti, which does not have a long
tradition of democratic rule, whatever changes have to be made are made
in accordance with accepted democratic principles and the right of
opposition groups are fully recognised and respected at all times. And that
is one of the reasons why we thought it extremely important to meet with
the opposition groups as a separate body and to meet with them at the
very highest level.
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A lot will depend on what comes out of the consultations with the
opposition parties here, with the Government of President Aristide and of
course, Haiti has been an item on the CARICOM agenda for some time
now. The next Intersessional will be in March in Antigua and certainly at
that meeting we will have to report on what have been the results of the
initiative on which we are presently embarked.
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I thought that at the time, I, as Chairman, was engaged in a particular
initiative. Indeed, most of my Christmas and New Year holiday was spent
in consultations with several governments and several agencies to mount
the initiative which has resulted from those efforts. I thought firstly, that a
visit to Haiti for one day which would not have afforded me an opportunity
of dialogue and interfacing with the government and the opposition, may
not have been the best use of my 24 hours and ran the risk of being
misunderstood.
As I understand it, Haiti is celebrating the Bi-centennial for a year - 2004.
The first of January was the launch of it. I expect to be present and to
participate during the course of it and my ultimate hope and dream is that
when I go to Haiti during this celebration I would have been able to make
some meaningful contribution to the resolution of the political impasse
which now exists and which would help to engender the kind of
atmosphere and environment which I think is highly desirable for a nation
that has led the world in the fight for liberty and the freedom from tyranny.
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