TT Defence Force ‘on alert’ for Haiti

As one Caricom initative to save Haiti draws its last breath, another — to have a peacekeeping force put in the country — is limping along. Nevertheless, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is on the alert to go to Haiti as part of a peacekeeping force, Prime Minister Patrick Manning stated yesterday. Manning also made it clear that despite the growing international opinion from countries like France, US and Canada, that Aristide should step down, Caricom is holding fast to its principled position that the Haitian leader was lawfully and democratically elected and therefore Caricom was not prepared to “countenance” his removal by “unconstitutional” means. Manning also disclosed that on Thursday he called five Caricom leaders, including Aristide, Barbados Prime Minis-ter Owen Arthur (for “very cordial discussions”) and Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson discussing what contribution they would be prepared to make if a peacekeeping force had to be put in Haiti.

Manning who is the Head of Crime and Security in the region, stated however that Caricom by itself did not possess the (military) ability to go into Haiti. It could only do so in collaboration with countries with more “logistical support,” he noted. He was speaking at a news conference in the Parliament Com-mittee Room. Manning painted a grim picture. He said the Caricom initative for the return to normalcy in Haiti which was hammered out in Kingston last month  “appears to be dead in the water.” It did not even receive the endorsement of the Opposition in Haiti. Furthermore a move by the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica and Bahamas to get a resolution pas-sed by the UN Security Council on Wednesday giving UN authorisation for a  multilateral peacekeeping force had failed, he noted. On top of this, France is now saying blatantly that Aristide must go while the US and Canada appear to be heading in this direction, as they urge the Haitian president to reconsider his position in the light of what was in the national interests.

“In short, there is no authority at this stage for any peacekeeping force to go into Haiti, while the situation deteriorates and the rebels expand their hold,” Manning stated. He said while Caricom was disappointed by the turn of events, especially at the level of the UN Security Council, it was pressing on. He said if Caricom couldn’t achieve what it set out to do at the level of the UN, it might have to go to the OAS. Saying that it was not too late to save Haiti, the Prime Minister said he hoped that the turmoil did not turn into an fullfledged bloodbath. Pressed on Caricom ’s insistence that Aristide should not be made to go, Manning said if Aristide decided on his own to resign, then Caricom would support this. But the Prime Minister reiterated that a lasting solution to the problem in Haiti lay in an economic recovery plan. Asked whether he discussed the maritime dispute in the conversation with Owen Arthur, Manning said the dispute had entered the legal phase so he was saying as little as possible. Manning congratulated Regi-nald Dumas on his appointment as UN Special Advisor.