By Robert Hart, Staff Reporter 
An injured Haitian student seeks help after clashing with supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, during a protest march in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday. - Reuters
THE GOVERNMENT remains committed to sending peacekeeping troops into poverty-stricken Haiti, but is still working out the details, the Senate was advised yesterday.
Senator Delano Franklyn, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, told the weekly Senate sitting that Government could not rule out sending forces to the country, which has been wracked by violence over the past several months.
"But there is a particular procedure to be followed. I would wish to give this House an assurance that all of these things are being taken into consideration with the understanding that time is of the essence," he said.
At the same time Senator Franklyn noted that the recently-signed agreement between the Caribbean Com-munity (CARICOM) and Haitian President Jean-Bertrande Aristide has been accepted and adopted by the "wider" world community.
"The parties outside of CARICOM have now signed off on what was the Kingston Accord, which has become the plan of action of CARICOM," he said, noting the importance of the achievement.
"There will be another practical initiative to be exercised this weekend which we hope will be able to help us along the way in getting the parties to understand that we need to arrive at a conclusion as quickly as possible," he added.
The revised plan is expected to be presented to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, according to announcements out of Washington.
Senator Franklyn's comments came in response to Opposition Senator Bruce Golding, who had risen on the motion for adjournment to address the escalating crisis in Haiti. Senator Golding had argued that the restoration of order in Haiti was beyond the capacity of CARICOM governments.
"We don't have the forces within CARICOM to go and maintain security in that kind of country," he said while pointing out that Haiti has a population of over seven million.
Senator Golding said too that Jamaica was ill-prepared to provide the food, medicine, security and housing that would be necessary if large numbers of the Haitian refugees arrive in the island on the heels of the 30 already here.
But he also assured the Government that the Opposition was ready and willing to collaborate and provide any necessary support in tackling the pending refugee influx.
