GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Bharrat Jagdeo believes the United States (US) is creating obstacles to the involvement of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and other countries in earthquake-devastated Haiti.

During a meeting with the Iranian Vice President Veep Rahimi yesterday in the Islamic Republic, Jagdeo said he was informed that a delegation comprised of Latin American leaders who were seeking to visit Port au Prince faced objection from the US government and therefore could not make the humanitarian move.

In the wake of the disaster and the decision of the Haitian authorities to hand over control of the airport to the US, Rahimi also raised objection, saying the presence of US forces in Haiti was seriously affecting efforts by other countries to provide assistance to the country in its hour of need.

“I am agreed with the entire axis of your comments,” Jagdeo told the Iranian official.

He added that Guyana has always pursued independent policies. “Although we live in the vicinity of the United States, we are not in agreement with their entire stance, and we do express our dissatisfaction with lots of their policies and viewpoints now and then,” the Guyanese leader said, stressing that “many of the moves of the Americans around the globe are against the norms and merely ensure their own interests”.

Jagdeo referred to the economic advancement of Asian countries, saying “today the Americans openly declare that they are concerned about some developing countries’ rapid advancement, such as China, towards becoming developed economic poles, since those countries can leave behind the United States economically in the future”.

He reiterated, “there are many countries and nations in the world today that do not seek salvation through attachment to the United States, having chosen other paths”.

A high level Caricom mission to Haiti, comprising heads of government and leading technical officials, had to be aborted last Friday after it was refused to permission to land in Haiti following the impact of the massive 7.0 earthquake on January 12.

On Friday afternoon, the US State Department confirmed signing two Memoranda of Understanding with the Government of Haiti that made “official that the United States is in charge of all inbound and outbound flights and aid offloading”.

Further, according to the agreements signed, US medical personnel “now have the authority to operate on Haitian citizens and otherwise render medical assistance without having to wait for licences from Haiti’s government”.

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