ARTICLE - POSITIVE MEETING - CARICOM

POSITIVE MEETING OF PRESIDENT MARTELLY WITH CARICOM
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, has officially received, this Monday, an important delegation from the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of CARICOM (Caribbean Community), for a working visit in Haiti. The delegation composed among others, of the President of Suriname, Mr. Désiré Delano Bouterse, also President of the Bureau, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Navis, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, the Deputy Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Philip J. Pierre, of Secretary General of CARICOM, the Ambassador Irwin Larocque, and the representative of Heads of State of the Caribbean, the former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

After having warmly welcomed these personalities at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, the Head of State and members of the Cabinet had meetings at the National Palace. Several points concerning, .... agriculture, health, aviation, security and job creation (in the fields of tourism, agriculture, sports, etc..) were addressed over several hours.

At a joint press briefing at the end of the afternoon, President Martelly announced that talks are underway to allow Haitians with valid Schengen or U.S. visas to travel without problem to the member countries of CARICOM . "The battle is not over yet, but a first step has been taken". Meanwhile, the possibility that three airlines of the Caribbean (including Surinam Airways and LIAT) could come to do business in Haiti was also the focus of discussion. Moreover, the President of the Republic informed that a comprehensive program of social security is in the planning phase.

In addition, the Head of State announced the update of a protocol signed in the past on specific agreements that CARICOM should address in favor of the Haitian population. Agreements in agriculture will make Haiti an exporter of agricultural products.

For its part, the President of Suriname, has ensured that CARICOM will remain with Haiti to help it to rebuild. According to Mr. Désiré Delano Bouterse, this visit will allow the delegation of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of State, and Government of the Caribbean Community to clearly identify priority areas in which Haiti has needs, and how the CARICOM countries can help. It will also permit the laying down of the groundwork for a greater presence of Haiti within CARICOM.

"CARICOM will do what is needed to help Haiti, because it is a very important member, so that it becomes a stronger country, and can contribute to the development of CARICOM," declared President Bouterse who took the opportunity to point out that CARICOM has done several projects in the fields of agriculture and sanitation after January 2010.

President Michel Martelly and the CARICOM delegation came out satisfied with these fruitful discussions. With the work day ending on a positive note, we must believe that the cooperative relations between Haiti and the CARICOM member states will be further consolidated, and that the doors of significant opportunities will open for the benefit of the Caribbean people.

Created July 4, 1973 after the adoption of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana, the CARICOM has as its fundamental objectives to strengthen interstate links between the 14 Member States, through the harmonization of foreign policy and politics within the Community (single market and cooperation).

The President of the Republic, believing in solidarity and fraternity, has clearly shown his interest so that Haitians can enjoy the same privileges as other Member States of the Caribbean Community.