Monday, Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant received the former Ambassador to Haiti and Special Coordinator of Haiti at the State Department Kenneth Merten.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister listed his Government's efforts to improve the business climate and strengthen institutions to attract foreign investment and job creation. He also stressed on the steps taken by the Government to combat corruption.

For its part, Kenneth Merten encouraged the setting up of the Permanent Electoral Council (CEP) in order to consolidate the Haitian democratic system.

The two men also discussed points relating to the bilateral relations of the TPS file, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22261-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22214-haiti-tps-senators-democrats-put-pressure-on-president-trump.html and the departure of the Minustah on October 15 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20656-haiti-flash-bye-bye-the-minustah-hello-the-minujusth.html

Moreover, during a courtesy visit to the Parliament accompanied by the new charge d'affaires of the United States in Haiti, Robin Diallo https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22217-haiti-un-mamadou-diallo-appointed-deputy-special-representative-of-minujusth-in-haiti.html , Kenneth Merten questioned on the US position on the remobilization of the army wanted by President Moïse, replied "this only concerns Haitians" pointing out "We can only, as a country, decide how to use taxpayers' money and it will be for the continuation of the process of professionalization of the PNH [...]" an unchanged position of the former American ambassador who had already declared in January 2017, during an interview on the Voice of America "We have always supported a civilian police to ensure the security of Haiti. We've spent a lot of money to have a professional police [...] It's hard to imagine that the United States is prepared to make a financial contribution to an armed force. The taxpayers, the State Department and the White House would not welcome it." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19746-haiti-security-usa-will-not-help-haiti-to-have-an-army.html

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22261-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22217-haiti-un-mamadou-diallo-appointed-deputy-special-representative-of-minujusth-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22214-haiti-tps-senators-democrats-put-pressure-on-president-trump.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19746-haiti-security-usa-will-not-help-haiti-to-have-an-army.html

SL/ HaitiLibre