ARTICLE - PM SEES OPPORTUNITY IN 2012

HAITI PRIME MINISTER SEES 2012 YEAR OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY
(Defend Haiti) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Prime Minister Garry Conille announced a series of projects towards education, employment and the environment for the year 2012. His government still faces the challenge of ratifying a budget, but on Friday it seemed to begin to take shape.

In an article in Le Matin, the Prime Minister, Garry Conille, said that "the year 2012 will be one of great opportunities," during a press conference at the Karibe Convention Center, Friday, January 6.

Education

In terms of education, Conille imagines a budget of $14 million [US] from the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) to build thirty (30) schools in the Ouest, $5 million [US] to build eleven (11) schools in Nippes, and another nineteen (19) schools to be determined.

The King Henri Christophe University in Limonade will open its doors with a capacity of 10,000 students on January 12th. The Prime Minister also expressed hopes to see the construction of a university campus in Damien during the year.

Prime Minister Conille will face the challenge of increasing the number and quality of educators in Haiti. Conille imagines that there is $12.5 million [US] available to provide training for 1,500 educators.

Employment

For employement, the Martelly-Conille government aims to continue foreign direct investment, such as the construction of the Industrial Park of Caracol that will generate 20,000 jobs, Conille said. The PM also considers it essential to attract investment through infrastructure projects, naming the completion of the airport in Cap-Haitien, in Jacmel and the rehabilitation of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Among other conditions to attract investment, Garry Conille plans to address the question of public safety, in particular through a plan at strengthening the police force progressively over three years. 2,000 officers will be installed into the National Police of Haiti.

Environment

The environment is a priority for the Prime Minister. He believes that the issue of the environment is a global one and that it requires a comprehensive approach.

He said that his government is determined to achieve 3.5% of forest coverage in 2012. Dr. Conille says that he is concerned with health problems, and to this regard, announced that 40 hospitals could open their doors this year as well as the rehabilitation of the largest hospital in the country, General Hospital; $50 million [US] he estimates in the budget.

Prime Minister Conille said that the real challenge of Haiti is the willingness of all her sons to come together to solve the great evils of the country.

So he is appealing to all institutions of Haitian society, including the family and the three branches of government to fully play their part in the success of 2012.