Following a two-day visit to Haiti last week, of a technical mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), the organization has intensified its support to Haiti. Led by Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, the delegation included representatives of various organizations that form part of the Inter American System including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and other agencies, as well as representatives of the OAS Departments of Political Affairs, Security, Trade and Development and senior political advisors.

During the two day visit, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin and his delegation held meetings with President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Foreign Minister Pierre-Richard Casimir, and the Ministers of Trade, Tourism, Agriculture, Social Affairs, Justice and Public Security.

In the course of the meetings the OAS officials and government ministers examined the range of projects being carried out by the organization in Haiti and proposed mechanisms for increasing the impact and effectiveness to benefit the people of the country. It also proposed new projects to assist the government in the areas of trade, investment, security, social affairs and development.

Senior government ministers are expected to travel to Washington, DC in early 2013 to meet with international partners on President Martelly’s vision and strategic plan for investment in Haiti.

OAS delegation also held meetings with the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Deputies, as well as members of the International Community, including The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah).

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin met also with the Secretary of State for Persons with Disabilities and addressed the government and people of Haiti during a major governmental forum on the reintegration into society of persons with disabilities. Approximately ten percent of Haiti’s population lives with disabilities following the earthquake of 2010. The OAS and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have partnered with the Government of Haiti to ensure the right to equal opportunity for disabled persons in employment, education and other areas.

"We believe in a comprehensive approach to development in Haiti. In this regard, we hope that the government will work with all stakeholders to ensure that stability continues. To this end, we are looking forward to the holding of partial senate elections which are overdue," noted the Deputy Secretary General of the OAS.

HL/ HaitiLibre