Barbados Prime Minister pressed not to engage with Haiti

President of the Clement Payne Movement, David Commissiong says his organisation is also pushing for Mr. Arthur publicly to insist on the unconditional release of former Haitian Prime Minister, Yvon Neptune as well as all other political prisoners.

Mr. Neptune has been held in a prison in Haiti’s capital, Port-Au-Prince, for almost a year without charges or any evidence having been presented against him. He has been on hunger strike since mid-April and, while family members and other visitors say he is weak and nearing death, interim Prime Minister, Latortue is reported as saying there is absolutely no risk of death.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister dated May 20th and which was sent after a ‘Solidarity with Haiti Rally’ held on that day, Mr. Commissiong said the movement is concerned that the Barbados government’s policy of fully engaging with the Latortue regime has given comfort and confidence to “human rights abusers who now occupy the corridors of power in Haiti”.

“Indeed, it is extremely likely that Barbados’ support for…Prime Minister Latortue has contributed to an exacerbation of the plight of the legitimate Prime Minister, Yvon Neptune,” Mr. Commissiong wrote in the letter.

The correspondence continues:

“All over the world, heads of government and leaders of prestigious international organizations are publicly raising their voices in denunciation of the oppression of Mr. Neptune and are urging that he be released. What are you doing?”

Mr. Commissiong says it’s time for Barbados to take a stand and for Prime Minister Arthur to make every effort to save the life of Mr. Neptune.

“We also call upon you to publicly insist upon the unconditional release of Mr. Neptune and all other political prisoners and the end to state-sponsored human rights abuses in Haiti, before there can be any consideration of full engagement,” he added.

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/05/23/engage.shtml