US-Caricom security meeting shelved in rift over Haiti's participation

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): A security meeting between the United States and the Caribbean Community was called off after Caribbean leaders refused to sit with representatives of Haiti's interim government, Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington said Tuesday.

The United States insisted Haitian representatives be allowed to attend. But leaders of the 15-nation group have backed exiled former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide's claim he was forced from power and have refused to recognize the interim government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.

Cooperation against terrorism was a major issue to be discussed at the May 3 meeting in the Bahamas.

"I agree that security is very important to all of us but I think that the very first thing that is of importance is the nature and regard for our community and you cannot compromise on that principle," Carrington said.

Caricom leaders have said they will not recognize the interim Haitian government until at least July, when a summit is planned to discuss the issue.

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