A four member delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met with President Michel Martelly this week to discuss how to strengthen Haiti's involvement in Caribbean commerce and policy. Haiti is to take chairmanship of CARICOM in July 2013.

The meeting in particular focused on improving movement of people and goods between Haiti and the region. Currently Haitians require a visa to travel to CARICOM member countries, despite the free movement policy that allows other CARICOM nationals to travel within CARICOM without visas. The delegation discussed President Martelly's plan for Haitian nationals with a U.S. or Schengen visa to travel freely within CARICOM. The delegation also discussed an agriculture agreement to boost Haitian agricultural exports to CARICOM countries.

The visiting members are Suriname President Desiré Bouterse, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony and CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque. The delegation is accompanied by Special Representative of Heads of Government to Haiti, P.J. Patterson.