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HAITI: BATTLEGROUND FOR HEMISPHERIC POWER SHIFT.

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In a partial reversal of policy, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) expressed in mid-July a desire to have Haiti return as an active participant in the organization. Barbados Minister of Foreign Relations Billie Miller told the media, "We want to see the return of Haiti to the activities of Caricom as soon as possible," after three months of suspension (see NotiCen, 2004-04-01). Her statement followed a meeting she headed in Port-au-Prince that was attended by foreign ministers of Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

The meeting sought to ease tense relations between Caricom and the US-appointed interim government of Gerard Latortue. Caricom had questioned the legitimacy of that government. Besides interim Prime Minister Latortue, interim President Boniface Alexandre was at the meeting, as were political-party leaders and others from civil-society organizations. Miller said, "The exchanges allowed us to dispel misunderstandings and understand the situation better."

The statements do not mean, however, that Caricom has recognized the interim government; it hasn't. Caricom has requested an investigation into the circumstances of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure from office and from the country last February. It has asked the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) to determine whether the departure was voluntary, as the US claims, or forced, as Aristide has repeatedly asserted (see NotiCen, 2004-03-04).

Supporters of the interim regime have suggested that Caricom is interfering in the internal affairs of the country, and Miller was careful to deny that, saying the intent is to contribute to "a credible electoral process," with "respect for the state of law." She said that Aristide, now in exile in South Africa, "is the past; let's work together to strengthen the region."

Other speculation has it that Caricom has conditioned recognition...

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