Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit. AFP PHOTO

The Dominican Leader issued the call at a press conference held recently in the aftermath of a Prime Ministerial Mission to Haiti in October, 2006. The delegation was led by Dr Denzil Douglas, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and also included Dr Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; Dominica’s Foreign Minister, Charles Savarin and CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Edwin Carrington.

The Dominican leader expressed the frustration of the Government of Haiti in getting the international donor community to honour pledges worth $750 million to Haiti.

“Of profound concern to the Government of Haiti is the slow pace of disbursement of pledges made by the various international organizations. $750 million was pledged to Haiti at a donors’ meeting but that has been slow in coming.

“And we have always stated very clearly that if these resources which have been pledged to Haiti is not forthcoming in a most timely fashion, it will cause there to be a level of degeneration taking place in Haiti and there would be some reversal of the gains made over the last five or six months since President Renee Preval has taken office.

“So we continue to call on our friends in the international community to make good on their promises and pledges and they have to deliver the resources now so that Haiti can respond to the challenges.”

Skerrit also stated that the Members of the Prime Ministerial Mission indicated that they would support Haiti’s request of US$13 million from the CARICOM Petroleum Fund.

The Prime Minister said that the Mission fully supported the decision of President Renee Preval to include members of six political parties in his Cabinet adding that this decision had contributed to the stable political situation that currently exists in Haiti.

The Dominican leader also pledged CARICOM’s unwavering support to Haiti’s bid to become a member of the Caribbean Development Bank.

The Prime Ministerial Mission also met with the private sector in Haiti. The private sector agreed that the political situation has stabilized but expressed concern about security in the country. The Mission acknowledged the continuing concerns over security and stated that CARICOM would give full support to Haiti’s request for United Nations security personnel to remain in that country beyond 2007.

Meanwhile, Skerrit commended the Government of President Renee Preval for what it has done since it assumed office.

“I believe the Government of Renee Preval has done an excellent job in stabilising the situation in Haiti.”

The purpose of the Prime Ministerial Mission to Haiti was to see how CARICOM can assist the Government and people of Haiti in moving the process of national development in Haiti forward.

Skerrit concluded that the visit “was very informative and it gave us a better understanding of the situation confronting the Government of Haiti”.

Skerrit also used his National Day Address on November 3, 2006 to call again on the international community to honour the financial pledges it has made to the Government and people of Haiti.