Haiti - Reconstruction : "Rebuilding better our communities"
A series of conferences-debates under the theme "Rebuilding better our communities" was held last week at the Karibe Convention Center in Petion ville. This event brought together representatives of some 90 firms or construction companies national and international.
"Responding to a need of more thta 500.000 homes throughout the country is the challenge for the Haitian government [...] Before the earthquake, the need was already estimated at 300,000 units to meet the needs" said Paul Emile Simon, Project Director at the Ministry of Tourism during this activity.
The 140 preselected companies from more than 360 bidders have presented their projects in the form of drawings, plans, photographs and models. Following this exhibition, 130 model homes will be built by these companies on a site in the area "des Orangers" (north of the capital). The Haitian private sector involved in allying with foreign firms and offers a variety of materials that could be used in various constructions (residences, commercial buildings and hotels).
These homes respond to paraseismic standards and take into account the environmental criteria. During 6 to 8 months, families will be invited to live in these houses and make their comments. Compliance criteria, standards and comments, will allow to select the 10 finalists who will participate to the construction of homes in Haiti. These companies may then establish factories in Haiti for the mass production of these houses and meet the needs that the country is facing.
