Charles Castel, Governor of the Central Bank returned yesterday on the statement, Tuesday, of Senator Jocelerme Privert President of the Commission Finance and Budget, following a meeting he had with André Lemercier Georges, the Minister of economy and Finance and this commission.

"...the first decision, we said that the measure that the governor has taken to require that the law is respected in terms of payment of transfers from abroad in domestic currency, this measure must be done gradually to allow operators who act in this sector, either to change of activity or there is new opportunities created for them..." had declared on Tuesday the senator Privert.

Mr. Castel explained yesterday on a radio station of Port-au-Prince that it is a rumor, something that was discussed, that it is a measure that is not indicated, the payment transfer will be in dollars or gourdes, inviting the financial institutions to offer better rates so that the beneficiaries decide to get paid in gourdes.

"...we are pleased of this rumor because the Central Bank is an institution transparent and this rumor confirms that we are a transparent institution, it is one of the things that were discussed between the banks and the Central Bank but now I can tell you that at our level, at the level of the Central Bank the conclusion is that it is not at all indicated, advised to take such action at this time.

What is do is to encourage banks, financial institutions in general, the houses of transfers to ensure that the rates they offer to the beneficiaries of the transfer is attractive enough to prevent this person makes two transactions instead of one.

Let me explain the average amount of a transfer in Haiti is 150 U.S. dollars [about 6,000 gourdes] is the average amount, so 90% of those receiving a transfer will spend it in gourdes [rent, food and school fees ]..." adding nevertheless "...we will return gradually to normal, because the normal is that the transfers be made in gourdes, this is not normal today, but we can not be brutal in the changes we are making. Now we hope that soon the problem of paying the transfers in dollars, by market mechanisms, by the good rates we offer, the payment [dollar] becomes marginal by the force of circumstances and by the market mechanisms..."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4481-haiti-economy-scarcity-of-the-dollar-4-measures-announced.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4412-haiti-economy-artificial-shortage-of-the-dollar-the-brh-convene-the-apb.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-4400-haiti-economie-pas-de-rarete-de-dollars-en-haiti-mais.html (in french)

HL/ HaitiLibre