Deputy PM Baugh visits Washington to discuss OAS response to Honduras coup

Georgetown Guyana JULY 3, 2009

JAMAICA'S DEPUTY PM ATTENDS SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OAS TO DISCUSS SITUATION IN HONDURAS:

DATELINE: Georgetown, Guyana:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Kenneth Baugh, left the Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, this morning for Washington DC, to represent Jamaica at a special assembly of the Organisation of American States.

The meeting comes as a follow-up to a previous special assembly of the general assembly of the OAS called in relation to the situation in Honduras. That General assembly had adopted a resolution mandating the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza to travel to Honduras to inform them of the OAS decision that President  Manuel Zelaya, who was forced out of office by the military,  should be returned  within 72 hours failing which Honduras would face suspension from the organization.

The OAS Secretary General travelled to Honduras and delivered the resolution to the head of the supreme court of Honduras. However Honduras has not agreed to have the President returned. The special assembly will be reconvening today to decide on the steps to be taken.

Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister will be participating as Chairman of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR). Dr Baugh will work with other Foreign Ministers to chart the way forward in relation to Honduras.

Jamaica's has condemned the reported forcible removal from office of the democratically elected President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya by  sections of the military.

In a statement following news of the coup, the Government of Jamaica described the actions as a breach of the principles of respect for the rule of law, human rights and constitutional order.

The Deputy PM will return to the island tomorrow and will take charge of the government in the absence of Prime Minister Bruce Golding. Mr Golding will remain in  Guyana  until Wednesday July 8 as special guest of the President of Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo and will continue further discussions on matters coming out of the 30^th  regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of Caricom.