He was recalled to The Bahamas on Feb. 26, during the height of the Haiti uprising, which eventually led to the ousting of Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Ambassador’s initial duty is to conduct a preliminary diplomatic and security review of the current situation in Haiti.
It also said Dr. Newry would report his findings to The Bahamas government for evaluation prior to resuming his post on a permanent basis.
In an interview with The Guardian from Haiti on Monday, Dr. Newry said he would continue to engage in talks with the government of Haiti so that The Bahamas’ interests would be met.
“There are bilateral interests between Haiti and The Bahamas, centred around the illegal immigrants in The Bahamas. We have an agreement on the table that needs now to be signed between the two nations,” he said.
He was referring to the bilateral agreement between The Bahamas and Haiti, settled during the summer of 2003.
The agreement is an important one and one that both governments would like to see implemented.
One key aspect of it involves immigration, particularly as it relates to employment. It specifies that no Haitian migrant would be permitted to apply for a work permit in The Bahamas, but would have to do so in Haiti instead.
Also under the accord, new immigrant labour regulations would be implemented allowing The Bahamas to orderly recruit skilled labourers from Haiti as needed. This process may require the establishment of a satellite office on the northern Haitian coast, to deal with the necessary processing.
Dr Newry said the agreement is his top priority but added that it may not be top priority for the new Haitian government, which is more concerned about stability issues in that strife-torn country.
“So I have to bide my time before trying to get this issue of ours put down on the agenda to be dealt with. So a certain degree of tact and patience is necessary here,” he said.
He said he could not say when the Haitian government would deal with issues related to the accord. He then pointed out that he would be meeting officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti today to highlight The Bahamas’ concerns.
“We will bring it up and they will decide when, in their good time, that this will come up for discussion and signature. As you know, the agreement is all finished. It is supposed to be a meeting for signature, not for discussions. All of the discussions are over,” he said.
Dr Newry also indicated that Haiti’s Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue wants an improvement in the relationship between CARICOM and Haiti in the earliest time possible.
CARICOM decided in March at its inter-sessional meeting in St. Kitts that it would not recognise Haiti’s new U.S.-backed government but would continue to negotiate with it, namely with Prime Minister Latortue, responsible for the day-to-day running of that government.
And the United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell met with Mr Latortue in Haiti on Monday to discuss the political situation and the framework for elections in that country.
The Associated Press reported that Mr Powell rejected proposals by CARICOM for an inquiry into circumstances of Aristide’s sudden departure from office on Feb. 29.
“I don’t think any purpose would be served by such an inquiry,” Powell said. “Haiti was on the verge of a total security collapse.”
Powell also pledged to help Haiti’s new government earn recognition within the 15-member Caribbean bloc.
Dr. Newry said he could not comment on Powell’s visit and explained that CARICOM has not abandoned Haiti and would continue working with the country. Haiti will also be a major topic for discussion during CARICOM’s next Heads of Government meeting scheduled for July 3 to 6 in Grenada.
Dr Newry joined vice consul Anthony Williams at The Bahamas embassy. Mr Williams was there for one week since its reopening on March 29.
The embassy was locked down for four and a half weeks and its reopening signalled a return to normalcy in Haiti. It is the only CARICOM country embassy in Haiti.
A Royal Bahamas Police Force officer, who travelled with the ambassador, is now standing guard at the facility, joining another Bahamian police officer already there.
Mindell Small, The Nassau Guardian
