By: Caribbean World News Thursday March 11,

Former Jamaica Prime Minister, Percival James Patterson, has commenced duties as CARICOM`s Special Representative to Haiti.

Patterson, whose appointment has been ratified by President Preval of Haiti, has wide-ranging responsibilities including engaging with the international community as a key CARICOM advocate on behalf of Haiti, facilitating the preparation of proposals for the Community`s medium and long-term assistance for Haiti`s recovery, reconstruction and development for the consideration of heads of government and ensuring the continued interface between the Community and the Government of Haiti, with regard to Haiti`s recovery , reconstruction and development assistance.

Patterson will also be attending the Twenty-First Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Dominica on March 11-12. There he will update the heads on the developments in relation to the critical situation in Haiti.
 
CARICOM will be managing its response through three main sources, a special unit at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, the office of the Special Representative in Jamaica, and the CARICOM office in Haiti.  Patterson will work with all these offices to ensure a coordinated response.