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Haitian President Invited To Bahamas For Talks

By Stephen Gay

Haiti?s readmission to the CARICOM fold paves the way for continued talks about a labour migration accord between The Bahamas and Haiti, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, who also indicated that Haitian President Rene Preval has been invited here for talks.

Minister Mitchell suggested that the country?s newly reactivated status with CARICOM was an important move.

"I think it?s an important signal to the world community of Haiti coming back to the world community," he told the Bahama Journal on Monday.

Following the ousting of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, CARICOM suspended Haiti from its council. But with democratically held elections behind it, the country found favour once again with the Caribbean Community.

The newly elected president is Rene Preval.

"The president seems to have set the right kind of level of engagement with the society and so it bodes well," Mr. Mitchell said.

According to the minister, Prime Minister Perry Christie has already extended an invitation to President Preval to come to The Bahamas for bilateral talks, something that may happen very soon.

The meeting is planned as a working session.

Minister Mitchell also spoke enthusiastically about the migration accord which is expected to have a beneficial impact on the stubborn issue of illegal migration from Haiti to The Bahamas.

"One must give time for the existing government to review it and see whether or not they are ready to proceed with it, but certainly from our part we are willing to proceed with it and we think it is an important accord to bring some order to this whole migration process here," he said.

Several months ago, following a suggestion from the International Organization for Migration [IOM] that the Government of The Bahamas sign a labour migration accord with Haiti, the Government of The Bahamas said the proposal would be supported only if it is decided that outside labour is needed to support a growing economy.

The recruitment of Haitians to provide labour in The Bahamas is something Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas Louis Harold Joseph also endorsed.

Haitians ? both legal and illegally ? have for decades been helping to support the Bahamian economy.

And thousands continue to head here for a better way of life.

Bahamas Ambassador to The Bahamas Dr. Eugene Newry also said a labour accord with Haiti would be a win-win situation.

Outlining other details of how it could be mutually beneficial, Dr. Newry said a more structured approach to engaging Haitian labour could help to satisfy this country?s demand for labour and also help with the development of Haiti, the Caribbean?s most impoverished nation.

CARICOM has already urged the international community to provide long-term commitment and support for Haiti.

In fact, the Bahamas' United Nations Charge d'Affairs, Frank Davies, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean grouping, told the UN's Fifth Committee deliberating on the budget for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, that the road ahead for the country would be long and difficult, according to the international press report.

Mr. Davies said support in the field provided to Haiti must be commended and pursued, it was reported. The mission is continuing to review its staffing requirements in order to ensure a greater proportion of national staff.

But he said CARICOM would like to know the reason why the mission must continue using consultancy services for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, although posts have been made available by the General Assembly.

The Committee met a few days ago and its controller and assistant secretary general introduced the budget for the stabilization mission to Haiti for the 2006/2007 period as a requested $490.6 million which represented a decrease of $25.8 million from the 2005/2006 period.

Warren Sach said the decrease was attributable, among other things, to lower ration costs, freight costs, as well as the projected completion of all accommodation facilities, seaport jetties and landing fields in the 2005/2006 period.