HAITI COOL TO CARICOM OFFER TO OBSERVE, ASSIST

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000069 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM GY HA XL CARICOM SUBJECT: HAITI COOL TO CARICOM OFFER TO OBSERVE, ASSIST ELECTIONS REF: A. 05 GEORGETOWN 1321 ¶B. 05 GEORGETOWN 1318 ¶1. (SBU) During a meeting on a separate issue with CARICOM SYG Carrington on January 17, CARICOM A/SYG Granderson told Ambassador that "after much procrastination" Haiti had informed CARICOM that "Haiti does not really need CARICOM technical assistance for the elections". Granderson is trying to ascertain if Haiti still wants a CARICOM observer team for the election. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador spoke with Granderson and Hugh Cholmondeley, Head of CARICOM's Task Force on Haiti, on January 18 regarding Haiti's decision. Cholmondeley said that CARICOM is trying to obtain a written invitation from Haiti to observe the elections but doubts this will be forthcoming. Ambassador inquired whether this would affect regional willingness to reintegrate Haiti into CARICOM after the elections. Granderson and Cholmondeley both indicated to Ambassador that this should not pose a problem if international observers declare the Haitian elections to be free and fair. BULLEN