Guyana president says Caricom position on Haiti justified

December 7, 2004

*

Guyana president says Caricom position on Haiti justified
Associated Press - AP

December 07, 2004GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Haiti is worse off under its US-backed
government than it was under ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
said Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo, asserting the Caribbean
Community is right not to readmit Haiti to its meetings.

Haiti lost its seat after Aristide was ousted February 29 under
diplomatic pressure and an armed insurrection led by demobilised
soldiers.

Aristide alleges the United States organised his ouster, a charge the
United States denies.

At a Caribbean Community summit last month, Haiti's bid to be
readmitted to meetings was turned down. Leaders cited human rights
and security concerns.

Since July, most Caribbean countries had called for Haiti to retake
its seat. Guyana, St Vincent, and St Lucia have maintained a hard
line.

"The situation has deteriorated, and the same things that the
international community was accusing Aristide of (interim Premier
Gerard) Latortue has done worse," said Jagdeo, speaking on local
television Sunday.

Since September 30, Aristide partisans have stepped up demands for
their leader's return, and more than 100 people have been killed in
politically linked violence in the capital.

Some human rights organisations have taxed the government for
illegally detaining scores of Aristide supporters. The government has
denied the charge, accusing Aristide of orchestrating the violence
from his exile in South Africa, an accusation Aristide denies.

Haiti joined the 15-member Caribbean Community in July 2002. With 8
million people, it more than doubled the population of the regional
organisation.

*******