21408: Esser: US demanded that Caricom recognise new Haitian gov't, says Gonsalves (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

The Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

April 19, 2004

US demanded that Caricom recognise new Haitian gov't, says Gonsalves

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - The US State Department sent letters
to some Caribbean countries "essentially demanding" that they
recognise Haiti's interim government before regional leaders met for
a summit in March, according to St Vincent's prime minister.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, speaking at a dinner for insurance
executives in Trinidad on Saturday, criticised the State Department
for sending the letter and said there is currently an "absence of
political democracy and a limitation on people's freedoms" in Haiti.

During its summit in March, the 15-nation Caribbean Community
withheld support for the new Haitian government and said it would
consider the issue at its next meeting in July.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has also called for a UN
investigation of the circumstances surrounding the ouster of former
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure from Haiti. Aristide
says he was forced to resign by the United States, which denies the
claim.
There was no immediate comment from the US State Department.

Gerald Latortute, Haiti's interim president, last month recalled his
ambassador to Jamaica and announced a freeze on relationships with
Caricom, after Jamaica decided to grant temporary asylum to Aristide,
who had arrived in Jamaica from the Central African Republic where he
was taken after being forced out of office. He had also failed to
show up in Kingston for a weekend meeting with Jamaica's prime
minister, P J Patterson.
Aristide, who was granted up to 10 weeks in Jamaica, is expected to
leave soon to take up permanent asylum in South Africa.
.