Caricom against bid to oust Aristide, says Trinidad prime minister

Saturday, February 14, 2004

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago Friday made clear that the Caribbean Economic Community (Caricom) opposes efforts to topple elected Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide. 

"It is not Caricom business to interfere in the internal affairs of the that country. We will not support any unconstitutional measures to overthrow or support the Aristide government", Manning told a news conference.

He pointed out that the embattled Aristide was constitutionally elected and has served two years with two more years to go.

Manning insisted that a Caricom initiative to end the crisis was the best option for the strife-torn Haiti, which is a member of the regional trade bloc. 

Among other things, Caricom has called for holding elections and the introduction of democracy. It also suggests the deployment of peacekeeping troops. 

As the wave of protests and demonstrations continued this week, Manning reiterated Caricom was prepared to send a peacekeeping mission if requested by the government in Haiti.

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