I seek to correct factual errors and misconceptions contained in your (Stabroek News) Editorial of Monday 18 January 2010.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued its initial response to the tragic events in Haiti at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday 12 January, three and a half hours after the catastrophe occurred. That response was posted on the website www.caricom.org and dispatched to the regional media via the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) at the same time. It is therefore not true to say that “it was not until after midday on January 14 that the Georgetown-based CARICOM Secretariat was able to issue a formal statement.”

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), as the region’s disaster response mechanism, has been organising in a structured way the relief efforts of the Community. The efforts by individual member States are in support of the regional response coordinated by CDEMA and not apart from the regional effort.

In the arrangements established by CDEMA for the response to disasters, there are focal points for each sub-region. In the sub-region to which Haiti belongs, Jamaica is the focal point. Less than 24 hours after the earthquake struck, a Jamaica Defence Force ship with supplies and personnel on board was en route to Haiti on Wednesday 13 January. It is therefore not true to say that CDEMA had not been “primed for action.” It is also a patent untruth to say that “The Community was unable to get itself together to immediately offer succour to its gravely stricken sister nation:” and that there were” no boots on the ground in Haiti.”

On Thursday 14 January, the Prime Minister of Jamaica the Honourable Bruce Golding met with His Excellency Rene Preval, the President of Haiti and the Prime Minister the Honourable Jean-Max Bellerive and based on their discussions, briefed the Chairman of CARICOM, the Prime Minister of Dominica, Honourable Roosevelt Skerritt, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Honourable David Thompson and the Secretary-General of CARICOM His Excellency Edwin Carrington who had arrived in Jamaica on Thursday, less than 48 hours after the earthquake, to proceed to Haiti. In the event the Prime Ministerial team was unable to land in Haiti because of the congestion there at the airport and rather than remain in a holding pattern burning fuel returned to Kingston. The intelligence gained by Prime Minister Golding from his discussion with the President and Prime Minister during his visit to Haiti formed the basis on which the Prime Ministers were able to decide on additional measures to be taken in response to the crisis.

This information and more was made available to the media: on Wednesday via a series of interviews conducted with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), media outlets in Guyana and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC); on the morning of Thursday 14 January 2010 through a second press statement; and through a third press statement on Friday 15 January 2010.

It is misleading to say of CDEMA “it could be said that it has failed comprehensively.” Judged by the standards laid down in your editorial, it responded within hours of the catastrophe, it is operating as the focal point for action and it has tapped national nodes for emergency relief.

Mr. Editor, you might wish to re-read the sentence in your editorial which states; “there was no reason why this could not have been set in motion on the afternoon of January 12” and draw to your attention that the earthquake struck after six p.m. Eastern Caribbean time.

It is unfortunate that some CARICOM media choose to ignore the information provided by the CARICOM agencies while promoting that of extra regional agencies and countries.
All for your information and guidance.
LEONARD ROBERTSON
Adviser Public Information