Dr. William Warren Smith, President of the Caribbean Development Bank (BCD), accompanied by 4 members conducted a 3-day visit to Haiti to assess the projects funded in Haiti and set the framework for a new cooperation before leaving Haiti Thursday, 22 November 2012.

Wednesday, during a joint press conference at the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, between the Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe and Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie, Minister of Economy and Finance, the President of BCD renewed the commitment of the Caribbean Development Bank in the development of Haiti "We want to work with Haiti to reach a level of development where everyone is a beneficiary."

To the President of the BCD, it is necessary not only to increase the Gross Domestic Product, but also to increase growth by supporting Small and Medium Industries and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME/SMI) in Haiti.

The Minister of Economy, recalled that the BCD has funded programs in the country totaling $63 million, part of which had already been disbursed "The BCD has funded many social project as donation including : the Education for All program, the project of teacher training for technical schools and development projects and of construction [National School of Financial Administration]." While welcoming the efforts of the BCD, the Minister highlighted the measures implemented by the Government, in order to avoid any slippage in the Haitian financial system.

In his intervention the Prime Minister declared "[...] I am very happy with the meeting I just had with the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. William Warren Smith [...] the Caribbean Development Bank has $63 million of approved for Haiti, in different sectors, social, education and community development.

There are different projects they have approved for Haiti on these projects, $23 million have already been disbursed for education and they will add another $5 million in education for all [...]

we discussed of future perspectives, how Haiti could participate. They were also handed them a copy of the Government's priorities, the Strategic Plan and the Social development plan for Haiti, so that we can do of Haiti, an emerging country by 2030.

We asked the Caribbean Development Bank to support the Haitian government in its priorities, in all programs that the Bank would like to implement in Haiti [...] the Government's priority is of course the social sector and the education sector. We will send a team at the Bank for a presentation of the social assistance program 'Ede Pèp', to see how the Bank can help us to support it as well as the program of free education.

[...] We were very pleased to have this meeting with the President of the Bank, which will mean a new beginning. We will revitalize our relationship with the Bank and we will pass instructions to that effect to our representative in this institution, in which we want to be very active in decision-making and especially in the disbursement of funds intended to help the Haitian people [...]"

Learn more about the BCD :

The BCD was created in 1969 in Jamaica. Its mission is to contribute to the harmonious development and to the economic growth of the countries of the Caribbean region, by giving priority to the needs of the less developed members. Since 24 January 2007, Haiti [Only French country on the 27 member countries] is a member of the Caribbean Development Bank.

HL/ HaitiLibre