(SLUTimes)The Saint Lucia government has yet to decide on sending translators to Haiti.
“We have been asked to do that. I haven’t discussed it with my cabinet,” Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre told reporters Monday.
“As you know, Dr. Kenny Anthony is part of a group of wise men who are right now in Haiti to see if they can work with the different groups in Haiti. But it is a decision I have not taken,” the Saint Lucia Prime Minister disclosed.
Former Saint Lucia Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony heads an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) appointed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) some months ago.
The group includes former Prime Ministers Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of the Bahamas.
The EPG has been engaging a broad cross-section of Haiti’s population and representative groups and holding discussions with United Nations, United States and Canadian stakeholders.
The group is expected to present a report to CARICOM leaders at their meeting this week, with Haiti as a top agenda matter.
Based on the EPG report, the CARICOM leaders would determine further regional support for Haiti.
Prime Minister Pierre explained that Saint Lucia is working with CARICOM on responding to the situation in Haiti.
Recently, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara A. Feinstein told a virtual news conference that Eastern Caribbean Creole translators could be helpful to a Kenya-led multinational force to help police in Haiti fight armed gangs amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The US official observed that certain countries have the same or similar Creole to Haitian Creole.
Within the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Saint Lucia and Dominica are two countries that speak Creole or Kweyol.
