Today the “bus” carrying relief for Haiti is heading to the United Nations in New York, but there could be no seat for the representatives of the democratically elected Government of Haiti or the democratically selected special envoy for the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

At a special conference under the auspices of the UN, the global community is meeting to make pledges of aid and to discuss the modalities of delivery. This is most commendable, except that the Haitian Government and people have had little or no say in the decisions that have been taken to date, and this disregard for the Haitians appears likely to continue. This is unacceptable and must not be allowed to happen.

Both the Haitian Government and neighbouring Caricom countries have been marginalised in the discussions about relief for Haiti and look set to be virtually excluded from meaningful involvement in the decision-making process.

There is a predisposition and long established tradition of donors to dictate the objectives, terms and conditions of the implementation of even humanitarian aid. There are even proposals for the role of the Government of Haiti to be usurped by a trusteeship of the countries pledging the most aid. This raises the spectre of an occupation similar to that by the US during the period 1915-1934.

The leadership of the Government of Haiti has a delicate and subtle diplomatic challenge in articulating what they would like and what they do not want while not appearing to be ungrateful. They also have to find a way to assert their right of self-determination without discouraging generosity.

The “voice” of Haiti, which is a member state of Caricom (albeit only in a formal sense), will be bolstered by Caricom’s special envoy, the former Jamaican prime minister, Mr Percival Patterson. His frustration over the token participation which donor governments and institutions have so far allowed was evident when he told the British Broadcasting Corporation that: “We are not going to become mere passengers on any bus taking Haiti in whatever direction others may choose.”

Donors need to exercise greater sensitivity to the dilemma of assisting Haiti without making them feel like mendicants. In handling this enigma, President René Preval has shown astute political acumen in authorising Caricom to assist in making representations on Haiti’s behalf. Caricom will be able to make statements which would be considered churlish if they came from the Government of Haiti.

Caricom is in an awkward peripheral role since it has already exhausted its meagre resources. The question which will plague its participation is, why are you in attendance when the Haitian Government is here and can speak for itself? Why should you be telling the countries what to do with their money when you have no money to contribute?

We know ‘beggars are not choosers’, but does one of the poorest countries in the world have to give up its sovereignty to get the relief it so desperately needs from the international community? Only if it’s a case of the man with the gold makes the golden rule.

In the true spirit of brotherhood, the international community must: pledge adequate resources for the reconstruction of Haiti; sustain its involvement over the next decade; respect the sovereignty of Haiti by allowing the Government to function; and accept that the neighbouring Dominican Republic and Caricom have a vital role to play.