T&T: Panday, U.S. and France should seek Caricom's okay to enter Haiti

Panday added: “It would appear that Aristide did not invite the Caricom peacekeeping force in, so they could not enter.

“Under international law, one has to receive an invitation, and cannot simply enter the country of another uninvited.

“Now that he has left Haiti, it is not sure who is in charge. Under the circumstances I think it’s justifiable that Caricom intervene to keep the peace and prevent the bloodshed that is likely to take place in Haiti.”

Panday also said: “Caricom must fulfil its responsibility to one of its sister members. The Caribbean body must assert itself and must find a way to prevent bloodshed in Haiti.”

Panday said any US peacekeeping force should consult Caricom, since Haiti is a member of Caricom.

If anything, there could be a joint peacekeeing force with the US and Caricom, he said

“Caricom should assume a leading role in this matter and not allow a non-Caricom member to intervene in Haiti’s affairs without consultation.

“That happened once in Grenada and it can happen again,” Panday warned.

By Panday's reasoning, since the new president Alexandre has not invited Caricom in, nobody should go to Haiti to help bring order. Panday is talking as though Caricom has not been engaged in finding a solution to Haiti's problem and as though the killing had not been going on in Haiti. Since it's going to take Caricom 24-48 hours to meet and decide what to do, then call up troops and ship them out, it will be about Friday before Caricom acts. Since the U.S. has been talking to Caricom along the way and both parties had agreed on a course, and since Caricom had gone to the U.N. on Wednesday and asked for a force to be sent to Haiti, what need is there for further permission from Caricom? Panday is rather late to the dance. Really, Bas, try to keep up with the news.