ARTICLE - MARTELLY'S TOUR RESULTS

DETAILS AND SUCCESS OF THE TOUR OF PRESIDENT MARTELLY
(Haiti Libre) -

The tour of President Martelly was a huge success and the positive impact both on the economic plan, agricultural, social, environmental and tourism to Haiti are many. "This was a tour that lasted six days. We had 44 meetings in those six days, and we can call this tour a resounding success for Haiti...", declared Laurent Lamothe, the Foreign Minister, at the end of this marathon of promoting Haiti.

We summarize for you the main achievements of the tour, taken from the press conference upon return of the delegation, at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport yesterday, Thursday, February 9, 2012.

Venezuela:

- Venezuela has agreed to increase the quota of barrels of oil per day from 14,000 to 20,000, [$100 million more per year in the fund Petro Caribe]

- For Jacmel, the Venezuelan Government has promised to conduct a pilot project in the area of deforestation. It will send 50,000 trees and 200,000 propane tanks.

- Venezuela has confirmed the sending of a diesel fuel of better quality which contains less sulfur (from 0.05 to 0.02)

- For Cap Haitien, Venezuela will increase production capacity of power plants, from 13Mw to 30MW, a project that will take 8 to 12 months to complete.

- Signing of an agreement creating a joint commission to manage all projects. In addition to Petro Caribe, there are several other projects, such as: refineries, fuel storage, storage of asphalt, stoves... This Commission will be co-chaired by Chancellors Laurent Lamothe and Nicolás Maduro.

- In the relaunching of agricultural production, President Martelly managed to convince President Chávez that Venezuela should help us. Venezuela has proposed the creation of a fund to guarantee the purchasing of crops from peasants.

- Venezuela offered Haiti a special relief fund in the Petro Caribe, which allows for keeping a portion for the development of neighborhoods. Haiti has to choose the neighborhoods in which they will start a pilot project, and they will put funds to renovate neighborhoods.

- Venezuela will send three missions this month: the first one will come in three days for one week. Another mission will come from February 17 to 19, and the Venezuelan Chancellor Nicolás Maduro will come to Haiti, Jacmel on March 2 and 3 to sign many agreements discussed in Venezuela.

- Venezuela has given its approval for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send 10 members of his Ministry for a training on management and protocol...

Argentina at ALBA Summit:

At the ALBA summit, Argentina, which is already helping Haiti in the field of food security through its "Pro Huerta" program; where they are already providing seeds to 250,000 farmers, pledged to increase aid from 250,000 to 1 million farmers.

Ecuador at ALBA Summit:

Ecuador has promised $5 million for road infrastructure in Haiti.

Cuba at ALBA Summit:

Cuba has promised to increase its cooperation with Haiti in the field of health and in the first steps of literacy. President Martelly met with General Raúl Castro Ruz. So far the program "wi nou kapab" has already alphabetized 250,000 Haitian citizens. Haiti has requested as part of a tripartite cooperation between Cuba and Venezuela, and Haiti, to increase this number to 1 million beneficiaries. Cuba and Venezuela have given indications that they agree.

Panama:

- Reduced cost of visas for Haitians which goes from $1,000 to $50 (signing of a decree in Panama)

- All persons who have a U.S. visa or a Schengen visa in their passport can go to Panama without having to go to the Embassy of Panama in Haiti.

- Signing of a cooperation agreement that will provide technical assistance to Haiti on the issue of free trade zones [free zones of Panama earns them more than 28 billion per year]. This assistance will help to create jobs. Free zones are a good solution.

- Technical assistance on the recovery of taxes [in Haiti 3% of the population and 300 companies only pay taxes]. This assistance will explain how Panama proceeded to have more people paying taxes, to have more resources, and to provide more services to the population.

- Technical assistance on the creation of businesses and in agriculture.

Bahamas:

President Martelly explained that the problem in the Bahamas, is that of Haitians who are arrested and then are deported. "I told the Prime Minister that our compatriots are seeking jobs. A cooperation for example, in tourism [..] if they could facilitate that cruise ships which are already in Labadie, also stop in other places in the North, such as La Tortue, Mole Saint-Nicolas... this could permit our fellow citizens not to be forced to leave Haiti and to find jobs at home. We asked that the Bahamas and Curacao see how they can partner with us to facilitate the passage of these vessels to other areas of Haiti..."

Laurent Lamothe informed that :

- There is an agreement of cooperation that exists that has never been applied. We have asked them to apply it

- An agreement with the Bahamas so that they can import our agricultural products, such as bananas and mangoes. Currently, Haitian mangoes can not go directly to the Bahamas; they must go through Miami. We asked the Ambassador to follow up, so we can sign this agreement.

Curaçao:

- Curacao is ready to withdraw visas for Haitians who have a U.S. or Schengen visa.

- It agreed to lower the restrictions on visas and have asked a mission from the Chamber of Commerce to travel to Haiti, to identify ways and means to reduce these restrictions and allow merchants to go to Curacao more easily.

- Signing of a technical assistance agreement at the taxation level, and development of popular neighborhoods.