PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF A VISIT TO HAITI BY A CARICOM DELEGATION LED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL MR. EDWIN CARRINGTON

Following on the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government taken at their Seventh Special Meeting , held in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, last October, CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, led a delegation to Haiti and held discussions on the regional grouping's assistance to that incoming CARICOM Member State in the run-up to its general elections, due on 19 March 2000.

The delegation included Sir John Compton, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Mr. Charles Maynard, former Minister of Trade of Dominica, both of whom have been closely involved with electoral processes in and development assistance to Haiti over the years.

The CARICOM delegation met with His Excellency Rene Preval, President of Haiti, His Excellency Jacques Edouard Alexis, Prime Minister of Haiti, the Hon. Fitz Longchamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President and Members of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). Discussions were held with representatives of the diplomatic corps, the international and hemispheric donor community, civil society and the private sector in Haiti. The delegation also met with the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

CARICOM Heads approved Haiti's application for membership of the Community at Montego Bay, Jamaica in July 1997. In July 1999, Haiti accepted the terms and conditions of membership of the Caribbean Community Common Market, at the Twentieth Meeting of CARICOM Heads, which was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The major issue confronting the forthcoming elections is the timely completion of the registration of all eligible voters. It is expected that CARICOM will be sending a team of Observers for the elections.

The delegation departs Port-au-Prince today.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti
16 February 2000