STATEMENT BY

 H.E. RAYMOND O. WOLFE

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAMAICA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 ON BEHALF OF

THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)
ON AGENDA ITEM 20:

THE SITUATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA:

PROGRESS IN FASHIONING A REGION OF PEACE,

FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

New York, 29^th June 2009

 Mr. President,

          I have the honour to issue the following statement on behalf of the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

CARICOM Governments have noted with great concern the forcible removal from office of the democratically elected President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya by certain sections of the military, and of his forced exile.  

We are also deeply concerned by the reports that a number of Government officials and diplomatic representatives have been detained and may have been physically harmed.  

Our Governments strongly condemn these actions, which are in breach of the principles of respect for the rule of law, human rights and constitutional order.  

CARICOM maintains its full support for, and recognition of President Zelaya and therefore calls for his immediate reinstatement. 

We deplore the violence and call upon the perpetrators to desist from these actions so that normalcy can be restored to the country for the benefit of the people of Honduras.  

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, we affirm our support for the OAS to contribute to restoring normalcy to the country and for the use of the good office of the OAS Secretary General.