FORMER prime minister PJ Patterson has called on members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to change the negative perception they have of their neighbour, Haiti.

Speaking at Saturday's press conference on Caricom's relief efforts in Haiti, Patterson said that for far too long Haiti has been described as an island of desolation, and urged Caricom countries to help "lift" the country.

"I don't particularly like the term 'rebuilding' because to some it might connote putting back what was there before the earthquake and we all know that cannot do," Patterson said. "I prefer to speak about a renaissance, the rebirth of Haiti on the economic side, on the social side, and in terms of the environment.

"In that regard, Caricom needs to recognise that Haiti is its most populous member state and we have an opportunity of moving Haiti from what is usually described as the bottom of the misery totem pole into a nation that reflects pride and history of persons who won their freedom over two hundred years ago," he said.

Patterson made the call as part of a three-fold approach, which he said was of most importance in the reconstruction of the country devastated by last month's magnitude seven earthquake.

He included in the plan, the rebuilding of the country's institutional capacity, the mobilising of a donor conference to be held in March, the finalising of the country's development plan, and assistance in its long-term rebuilding objectives.

"The presidential palace has been smashed to smithereens, nearly all the buildings that house government ministries have been destroyed," Patterson said. "We believe that Caricom has to come to the assistance in helping to replenish and strengthen the institutional capacity at this time,"

Despite the large strides Caricom representatives have made in the provision of medical and relief supplies in Haiti, Patterson said there is still much more to be done.

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