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OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL REPORTS ON RECENT VISIT TO HAITI AND MEETINGS WITH HAITIAN AUTHORITIES

During a session of the Permanent Council, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, highlighted that “cooperation, coordination and consultation with the UN system, international financial institution and the multilateral institutions, as well as bilateral donors is critical in ensuring the sustained positive impact on stability and socio-economic development of Haiti.”

As Chair of the OAS Haiti Task Force, the OAS Assistant Secretary General briefed members of the Council about his visit to Haiti on January 29 - 30, and explained some of the OAS efforts to continue supporting Haiti’s stability and socio-economic development, explaining that “the role that the OAS is playing is very well welcomed and should be strengthening.”

During his visit to Haiti, Ambassador Ramdin met with high-level officials and authorities, including President René Préval, Prime Minister Pierre-Louis, Foreign Minister Nicolas, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Levaillant Louis-Jeune. In all of those meetings five areas of priority for the government were identified and conveyed to the Mission including: the issue of drug trafficking and its impact on the good functioning of public institutions; efforts towards constitutional reform, and strengthening of the judicial system; the current electoral process, including the preparations for the partial senatorial elections, scheduled for April 19, 2009; and the implementation of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction. Stressing on the importance of those encounters, Ambassador Ramdin declared that “we exchanged views on all these issues trying to get a better understanding of the opportunities, concerns and challenges that Haiti is currently facing.”

One of the most important results of Ambassador Ramdin’s visit to Haiti last month was the interest expressed by the Haitian Authorities to have an electoral observation mission of the OAS to be present at the Partial Senatorial elections as a way to safeguard the credibility of the process. As he explained, President Preval requested the Organization to continue accompanying Haiti in the electoral process, providing support for the constitutional reform and assisting in becoming more effective in the fight against drug trafficking, in particular through dialogue with other partners.

With regards to the senatorial elections that are scheduled for April 19, 2009, the Chair of the Haiti Task Force reiterated the OAS support to contributing to the success of the elections, and explained that “our Organization will provide assistance in the preparation of the electoral process in terms of the completion of the voter list, the printing of the list and the establishment of a tabulation center on election day.” Further, he referred to the appreciation expressed by the Haitian government for the support the OAS has given in the modernization of the civil registry and the distribution of identity cards, “about 700,000 cards will have been printed and distributed before the senatorial elections in April” Ramdin informed.

In his presentation, Ambassador Ramdin also reported advances in the holding of a donor conference to fund the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (DSNCRP) to be held in the beginning of April of 2009. This was an issue of high priority, given the Haitian Authorities’ expressed concerns related to a budget deficit that may have a negative impact on investment and job creation.

Ramdin’s presentation also included and overview of the Haitian priorities. He affirmed that the government has identified the following priorities on the socio-economic front: road infrastructure, energy, education, health, irrigation, aquaculture, and agriculture and support for the private sector. “The feeling is that instead of focusing on a broad array of projects, the Haitian government intends to concentrate on a small coherent and achievable program for social and economic development” he added.

At the conclusion Assistant Secretary General Ramdin commented that the success of programs in the areas of education, tourism, investment, and justice, among others, depends on concrete support from all OAS member states.

Following his presentation, representatives from various member countries reiterated their support to Haiti, and expressed their willingness to continue cooperating in the framework of the OAS Task Force recognizing how important cooperation remains.

Reference: E-024/09