T&T: Haiti, we're ashamed

Here's Ira Mathura's an excerpt from opinion piece, and she's mostly right on the issue, too.

Haiti, I'm sorry. Caricom failed you. We remained the duds we always were. Once again we've turned our backs, on you. We know that more than 260,000 people could be dying of hunger, and yet we sit smug, pointing fingers. Haiti, I'm sorry.

Caricom leaders are pompous, passing judgment, instead of food and supplies. Haiti, I'm ashamed, now you're dependent on French, Canadian and US troops to restore order, while our soldiers sit around eating fried chicken. Haiti, I'm sorry, we knew all along that you're convulsed with poverty, wiped out with Aids, yet instead of helping, we slam the US.

Haiti, I'm sorry, instead of embracing you in your time of need, we are thinking of throwing you out of Caricom councils. Haiti, I'm sorry, just a month or so back, we treated your people like criminals before sending them back. Haiti, I'm sorry we know you're our neighbours, but all you'll get from us is a statement. Haiti, I'm sorry, your 15-member family, the Caricom can't help you since we are defunct, impotent and invisible to the world.

Call it US arrogance if you like. But it sounds like pragmatism to me. Caricom has never been anything beyond an annual statement by leaders who lime for two days a year. No wonder the world has appropriated our territory, our neighbour as their responsibility.