Caribbean fears Haiti violence
2005-07-04 08:44
Castries, St Lucia - The 15-nation Caribbean Community said it was worried about the growing violence and deteriorating security situation in Haiti and chided the international community for what it called the slow allocation of financial aid.
The outgoing chairperson of the community, known as Caricom, President Ronald Venetiaan of Suriname, said members are monitoring an increase in political instability and a simultaneous deterioration of security in the run-up to municipal, legislative and presidential elections in Haiti.
Pledged millions
He said that while Western donor nations have pledged millions to help the impoverished Caribbean nation, the actual disbursement of aid is slow and "raises questions about the real commitment of the international community to alleviate the social and economic suffering of the Haitian people".
The Haiti declaration came on the first day of Caricom's four-day summit, during which leaders also tackled crime, free trade and an agreement Venezuela negotiated with several Caribbean nations to provide them with inexpensive oil and petroleum products.
Caricom nations suspended Haiti's US-installed interim administration from attending meetings of the trading bloc after former President Jean Bertrand Aristide was ousted last year, saying they refused to support non-elected governments in a region of democratic administrations.
- AP