(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     The Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, QC, MP, Prime Minister of Barbados, has welcomed the holding of the first round of elections in Haiti.  He said that the Community stood by its largest Member State as it conducted this important exercise in its democratic renewal.  The Chairman congratulated the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the government and people of Haiti for their determination in holding the elections.

The Chairman noted that the OAS Observation Mission had reported some problems but that its Head, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Enrique Castillo, had declared that these elections marked “a step forward”.

Prime Minister Stuart underlined the important role that CARICOM has been playing in Haiti and the importance to the Region of Haiti’s membership in CARICOM.  He referred to the fact that Haiti will be hosting CARIFESTA, the Region’s premier cultural festival from 21-30 August, 2015 as a sign of the deep involvement of Haiti in the Community.