By CLINT WATSON

CARICOM leaders met Tuesday in closed sessions on a secluded, privately

owned island called Calivigny near Grenada to discuss what steps it will

take with regard to Haiti. The retreat was restricted to Heads of

Government or leaders of delegations only and no more than two of their

chosen advisors. The media was denied access to the retreat.

The Haitian issue is a topic that has regional leaders on different sides.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who plays a key role in these discussions,

said his view has been that The Bahamas, which is the closest CARICOM

neighbour to Haiti, must engage in relations with Haiti because of the

immigration problem. The Prime Minister, however, recognises that other regional nations have difficulty with the manner in which Jean Bertrande Aristede was removed and the request of the United States that CARICOM recognise and begin to deal with the Latortue Government in Haiti.

Nonetheless, Prime Minister Christie says this problem will not go

away. He says he wants to see democratic elections in Haiti as soon as

possible. "We want to see consistent political and democratic conduct on

the part of the Haitian administration," said the Prime Minister. "It isn't important that we speak to recognition because we have never had to recognise a government in Haiti, but we have had to deal with the effective authority there."

Prime Minister Christie said he will always express his views to his

colleagues. However, regardless of whether they change their views, he must

still return to his country where he must deal with Haiti's interim government.

The task of convincing an agressive body of leaders is by no means easy,

particularly with leaders like the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the

Grenadines, Ralf Gonsalves, who remains adamently against recognising

Haiti's interim government. "The Heads or no group of Heads can go and meet

Latortue, and, if they go, they would not be representing me," Gonsalves

said. "Latortue was installed by the Americans, you do not have democracy

in Haiti today and there is no level playing field, therefore whoever wants

to recognise Haiti can, but the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

will not recognise the Latortue administration."

Prime Minister Gonsalves said in order to be a member of the club, you

must have democratic elections where people are prepared to participate

freely. He says that those who want to compromise can do so.

Legislatively, there is nothing that can be done at this point to expel Haiti from CARICOM. Prime Minister Gonsalves recognises that, yet he is not prepared to change his position at this time, saying, "Unless I can be persuaded to the contrary with some overwhelming evidence which is not yet in my possession."

The conference delegates also reviewed the recommendations from the

Community of Council of Ministers that had an informal briefing at the

weekend by the Foreign Minister of the interim Haitian regime, Yvon Simeon,

on steps taken and initiatives being pursued that could help end the impasse

over Haiti's return to the Councils of Community.

Assessments on crime and security and the CCJ were also on the agenda.

Leaders get set to conduct their final day of business before concluding the

25th session of the CARICOM Heads Conference in St. George's Grenada.