ReliefWeb

HAVANA, Jul 4, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Monday expressed its concern over the worsening security and increasing violence in Haiti, according to reports from Castries, capital of Saint Lucia.

Ronald Venetiaan, President of Surinam and outgoing CARICOM President, said the CARICOM countries have issued a warning about the situation in Haiti. It said there is increasing political instability and deteriorating security ahead of the municipal, legislative and presidential elections in the country.

Meanwhile, Venetiaan complained that the resources provided by the international community to Haiti were not enough.

The commitment of the international community to overcome social and economic problems of Haiti was in question, as there has been a low level of resources for that country, said Venetiaan at the four-day CARICOM summit, which opened on Sunday.

At the summit, CARICOM will discuss such issues as migration, free trade in the region, combat against crime and the pact with Venezuela, through which Caracas is to supply cheap crude and oil by-products to the bloc.

Haiti did not attend the summit because it was blocked by CARICOM from participating to protest the ouster of president Jean- Bertrand Aristide February last year.

CARICOM, founded in 1973, groups Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago.