CARIBBEAN: Former Prime Minister Patterson sees key role for CARICOM in Haiti rebuilding
He argued that while the earthquake had exacerbated the situation of poverty in the country, the challenge was now to convert catastrophe into positive opportunity.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson says the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must safeguard its position at the steering wheel, as Haiti embarks on a long road to recovery following the effects of the January 12 catastrophic earthquake.
Patterson, who is the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Special Representative to Haiti, issued the comments as he addressed a public education forum in St. Lucia ahead of his presentation of a special report to regional heads of government in Dominica on Friday, regarding CARICOM’s intervention in Haiti.
The former Jamaican prime minister contended that the 15-nation regional grouping cannot allow the spotlight to fade on the devastated country, stressing that now is the time to build a new economy and society in keeping with the targets set up by the United Nations.
Patterson is however adamant that Haiti, which recorded an estimated 300 000 victims as a result of the recent quake, must be allowed to create its own development plan.
He argued that while the earthquake had exacerbated the situation of poverty in the country, the challenge was now to convert catastrophe into positive opportunity.
“CARICOM is there to offer technical assistance and advice, to lobby and work alongside Haiti, very cognisant of the urgency in meeting their immediate needs according to their priorities but also ensuring that their long term interests are satisfied and not compromised,” he said.
“CARICOM must be the column or the steering wheel while Haiti must be in the driving seat, and we cannot and will not abnegate our responsibility in this hour of need.”
He noted that St Lucia and Dominica were uniquely poised to advance the rebuilding process in Haiti, saying the islands had the strong bond of language and a shared colonial history that brings them closer to Haiti than most other countries of the region.
“This makes your nations ideally suited to assume a leadership role as CARICOM establishes its physical presence in Haiti to assist the redevelopment,” he told the audience in Castries.
Patterson also made a case for Haiti’s future model of development to be consistent with its integration into CARICOM and the regional single market and economy.
“Future policy and planning for the country must therefore take this into account and be geared towards helping it to become a full beneficial member of the CSME,” he said. Patterson further noted that the Community had to assist the country’s economy to be assimilated into the regional economic integration.
Regarding the way forward as supported by CARICOM, the country had already indicated an initial focus on agriculture, light manufacturing and services. Hence, the rebuilding of the economic and social infrastructure, including substantial housing, should be seen as an important part of the way forward given their potential employment capacity, Patterson said.
In addition, tourism is seen as a key driver in the recovery process, given its linkages with agriculture, arts, crafts and culture.
Patterson stressed the importance of planning small business development in the context of climate change, sustainability and the creativity of the Haitian people, utilising the depth and diversity of the CARICOM cultural profile.
In this regard he expressed the hope that the private sector of Haiti and its CARICOM arm should gear up and equip itself for much of the work.
It was back in 1998 under Patterson’s chairmanship of CARICOM as then prime minister of Jamaica that Haiti was granted provisional membership in the regional grouping. (Dominica News)