Gift: Dumas out of place on Haiti

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Knowlson Gift, said United Nations Special Adviser, Regi-nald Dumas, is out of place to criticise Caricom over Haiti. In a news briefing yesterday at Knowlsey House on a recent Caricom meeting in St Kitts and a Cariforum meeting in Suriname, Gift replied to “live” televised statements earlier by Dumas that Caricom was taking too long to call for a probe into the ouster of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Gift questioned whether Dumas had jurisdiction to make such remarks. “I’m very doubtful as to the justification of the gentleman’s accusation, particularly from a jurisdictional standpoint.”

He said Dumas should stick to the mandate referred to him by UN secretary general, Kofi Annan. The question of Cari-com’s call for an investigation, Gift said, was not within the purview of Dumas. He explained that Caricom has taken steps to appoint a special envoy to coordinate Caricom’s contribution to Haiti, whether in human resource or military resource. “It’s not fair to say Caricom is dragging its feet on the call for an inquiry. I am very surprised to hear this statement.” Gift disclosed Caricom leaders would meet US Homeland security secretary, Tom Ridge, next month in Nassau, Bahamas.

“We have been looking at the question of returnees (US deportees). There should be a review of the criteria governing the return of criminals to Caricom. That is not a great priority for the US, whose priority is terrorism.” So was terrorism a threat to TT? Gift said no. “I have no reason to feel Caricom should feel threatened like the United States. We are a very peace-loving region. We do not have occupying forces or troops anywhere in the world. There seems to be no immediate threat to Caricom.” Reporters asked whether Caricom would talk to Tom Ridge about the possible non-tariff barriers to Caricom arising from the US Bio-Terrorism Act and the World Maritime Organisation’s new mandate for X-ray machines at ports. Gift assured: “That will be part of the security agenda. I am sure it will receive a very, very high priority by Caricom heads.”