PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:
HAITI'S FOREIGN Minister Herard Abraham left Trinidad yesterday for Barbados as part of efforts to persuade Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to end the isolation of his country following the controversial removal of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide last year.
"I intend to visit every Caribbean country to explain to them the situation in Haiti, the position of the government and to explain to them the campaign of disinformation which is taking place," Abraham told reporters ahead of his meeting with Trinidad and Tobago's Foreign Minister, Knowlson Gift.
No details of his meeting with Gift have been released.
"My wish is for Haiti to take its place in the Caribbean Community" at its July summit, Abraham said.
Haiti, a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, has not been allowed to participate in meetings of the regional grouping since Aristide's controversial removal in February last year.
ACCUSATION
Aristide, who now resides in exile in South Africa, has accused the United States and France of engineering his removal from office, a claim that has been denied by both countries.
CARICOM countries are divided on whether to recognise the United States-backed interim administration of Gerard Latortue, even though the regional states said they are prepared to lend assistance in the lead up to the elections.
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the regional states that have indicated a willingness to help the people of Haiti deal with the ongoing volatile situation that has resulted in the deaths of many people since Aristide's ouster.
