On Friday, President Michel Martelly, proceeded, to the launch of construction work of the dam of Rivière Grise, in Dumay, in the Cul-de-sac. These works aiming to enable the irrigation of 700 hectares, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the tune of 8.4 million U.S. dollars, is the result of a partnership between the project Feed the Future West/WINNER and the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR). With the construction of the dam of Rivière Grise, farmers can increase production and create thousands jobs. The dam will also protect a population of over 50,000 people against the risk of flooding.

In the presence, among others, of the agronomist Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture, Jean Francois Thomas, Minister of the Environment, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Pamela White, Ambassador of Spain in Haiti, Manuel Hernandez Ruigómez, Jean-Robert Estime, Head of Project Winner, of the Director of USAID in Haiti, as well as representatives of associations of farmers in the area, the Head of State expressed satisfaction and thanked the authorities and the American people for the various projects financed by USAID for the development of Haiti.

For her part, Pamela White, welcomed the launch of this work, which she believes will improve the living conditions of the population of Croix des Bouquets and surrounding areas.

Thomas Jacques reiterated the commitment of his ministry to ensure maintenance of the dam in collaboration with the Association of Irrigators of the Rivière Grise.

This dam should be operational in December 2014.

HL/ HitiLibre