Patterson takes up duties as special rep to Haiti

FORMER Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson yesterday commenced duties as the Caribbean Community's (Caricom) special representative to Haiti.

Patterson, whose appointment has been ratified by Haiti's President Rene Preval, has wide-ranging responsibilities, including:

* Engaging with the international community as a key Caricom advocate, on behalf of Haiti;

* Facilitating the preparation of proposals for the Community's medium and long-term assistance for Haiti's recovery, reconstruction and development for the consideration of regional heads of Government; and

* Ensuring the continued interface between the Community and the Government of Haiti, with regard to Haiti's recovery, reconstruction and development assistance.

Patterson has already represented Caricom's interest at the recent Ministerial Conference on Haiti in Montreal, Canada, and will do so at future such conferences, including the upcoming Donor Conference in New York at the end of March.

He will also be attending the 21st Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Dominica on March 11-12. There he will update the heads on the developments in relation to the critical situation in Haiti.

Caricom will be managing its response through three main sources -- a Special Unit at its secretariat in Guyana, the office of the Special Representative in Jamaica, and the Caricom office in Haiti. Patterson will work with all these offices to ensure a co-ordinated response, according to a release yesterday from his office.

"The Government of Haiti having ratified Mr Patterson's appointment has also given the special representative the power to speak on their behalf in appropriate fora," the release said.

Meanwhile, Patterson in addressing an education forum in St Lucia Tuesday, said the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti must be converted positively into an opportunity to build a new and sustainable economy and society capable of satisfying the country's goals and targets set for the new Millennium.

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