22231: Esser: No T&T troops for Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Trinidad & Tobago Express
http://www.trinidadexpress.com

June 3, 2004

Manning: No T&T troops for Haiti
By RICHARD LORD


TRINIDAD and Tobago has reversed its decision to send troops to
Haiti, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday.

Manning told a post-Cabinet news conference several weeks ago that
this country would be sending troops to Haiti following the removal
from office of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Aristide is
now in exile in South Africa.

But in an interview with reporters following the opening of a
three-day workshop on the African Diaspora at Crews Inn Hotel,
Chaguaramas, yesterday, Manning, asked to say how soon this country
would be sending troops to Haiti, responded: "No, as of now, Trinidad
and Tobago will not send troops to Haiti because of the way the thing
has gone, and there is no shortage of troops in Haiti."

Manning said the Trinidad and Tobago Government was of the view that
the best way to assist Haiti at this time was not by sending troops
to that country but perhaps with finance, education and other
opportunities.

Manning said Caricom has "moved on" over the issue of acceptance of
the new Haitian Government.

Asked if he was aware of an alleged decision taken by Barbados Prime
Minister Owen Arthur to accept the new Haitian Government, Manning
said, "No".

Manning said that at the last Inter-sessional Heads of Government
Conference a decision on that issue was postponed to next month's
heads of Government Conference in Antigua.

Manning said that, in the interim, "a lot of things are happening
behind the scenes... I spoke with Mr (Gerard) Latortue in Guadalajara
(Mexico) and what the entire Caribbean is trying to do is to move on."

Manning said Caricom "is trying to treat Haiti as one of the
brotherhood."

He said he had no doubt as to what decision Caricom would take on the
matter next month.

Asked specifically if Caricom wold agree to recognise the new Haitian
government, Manning said: "I have no doubt about it."

Manning reiterated that Caricom had passed the issue of Aristide's
removal from office in February this year. He said Caricom had "grave
doubts" about the ouster and has called for an investigation into it.
He said even while this is being done, "we are also looking to the
future Haiti".

And Manning also promised to contact the President of the Dominican
Republic with a view to providing financial assistance to that
country following flooding in that nation which claimed the lives of
hundreds of people.
.