Patterson Appeals to OAS On Behalf Of Haiti

WASHINGTON, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Special Representative on Haiti, P.J. Patterson has challenged the Organisation of American States (OAS) to work with the rest of the international community to help Haiti realise its vision of prosperity.

Patterson was addressing a special session of the OAS Council here on Wednesday on the role of CARICOM and its efforts towards the reconstruction of Haiti following the catastrophic earthquake on January 12. He stressed that CARICOM regarded the rebuilding of Haiti as a priority for the entire region.

The former Jamaica prime minister said CARICOM is obliged to be at the forefront of international advocacy and mobilising regional support for Haiti, not simply as a matter of historical sentiment or understandable concern.

“CARICOM believes that a vibrant Community needs a strong Haiti to assume its rightful place. Instability of any kind in Haiti will result in instability within our region.”

He stressed the importance of urgent action on the part of the international community supported by members of the hemispheric grouping to prevent any escalation in the consequences of the disaster and to commence the task of re-engineering a brand new Haiti following the catastrophic earthquake on January 12.

The special session of the OAS Council was convened on the eve of the launch of the centennial celebration of its headquarters “House of the Americas” in Washington DC to update itself on the efforts to rebuild Haiti in the wake of the quake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left many more homeless.

The CARICOM envoy said Haiti’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development, prepared with the support of various International and UN agencies, identifies clear priority areas that require the strengthening of the country’s institutional capacity.

He said that will call for a tremendous exercise in governance, “the decentralisation of government and the creation of a dynamic state that engages all strata within the society to command the full confidence of the populace”.

Patterson reported that CARICOM is on course to establishing credible and sustained support which extends beyond the corridors of the region’s several governments to embrace professionals, business people and special interest-groups who can ensure that the best skills, knowledge and experience of the region are available to the Government and people of Haiti.

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