The city of Jérémie recently hosted the 4th Regional Table Great South Coordination. A space for dialogue around the development priorities of the departments of Grande Anse and the South, between the Haitian government, civil society, institutions of international cooperation and various donors, including Switzerland, the Government of Norway, DFID (Department for International Development) of the British government, the Canadian Corporation, the French Development Agency (AFD), Germany and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

This initiative has promoted discussions in particular on two themes: green economic sectors and fisheries; lland use and of the environment. For two days, departmental directors of Grande Anse and South of various ministries and several Haitian institutions, presented to donors, challenges and opportunities that are necessary for the development of the agricultural sector.

Norman F. Wiener, the Departmental Delegate of Grande Anse, highlighted the opportunities that exist in the South. "The Grande Anse has significant potential in agricultural production including coffee, cocoa, yams without forgetting the sectors of fisheries and processing [...]".

Speakers stressed that there is a demand for coffee and cocoa on the international market. However, they stressed that the low production of Haiti, attached to the lack of ability to test the quality prevented Haitian producers to obtain a part in this market. "The highest price for Haitian coffee of quality is 4.5 US dollars per pound, while the Blue Mountain from Jamaica costs about $ 20 in Japan," said Paul Duret, researcher and executive of the Interdepartmental Committee for Land Planning (CIAT).

For his part, Serge Chéry, South Departmental Delegate, supported "There must be a reflection that reflects the priorities for the sustainable development of these two neighboring departments connected particularly by Macaya Park".

"[...] The development of the Development plan of Great South is essential to inform and guide sustainably the investment and ensure that these are considered in the national budget," argued Michèle Oriol, Director of CIAT, adding that the sectors: environment and energy, are undeniably two major priorities for regional development of the South.

This Table was an opportunity for the actors to highlight theactivities harmful to the environment that which are made in the two departments whose excessive cutting of trees at the Macaya National Natural Park and its buffer zones. Note that the Ministry of Environment, through its Management Unit of Macaya Park, began the boundary of the park and conducted awareness campaigns around the protection of this protected area, the only rainforest in Haiti, rich in biodiversities and endemic species.

HL/ HaitiLibre