ARTICLE - TOURISM - $44 MILLION FOR THE NORTH

$44 MILLION FOR THE NORTH REGION
(Haiti Libre) -

Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism, who accompanied, the Prime Minister, Mr Laurent Lamothe, during his official visit to Washington last week, has agreed, during a meeting at the headquarters of the World Bank (WB), with Rogério Studart, Executive Director for Haiti's affairs, Alexandre Abrantes Special Envoy of the Bank accompanied by the technical team of the WB; to the tourism development of the North region, particularly the rehabilitation and development of the management unit of the National Historic Park, the rehabilitation of a tourist circuit in the Historical Center of Cap-Haitien, and the development of the former prison of the city into a cultural and tourist center. This agreement represents an investment of $44 million U.S. dollars over the next 3 years.

A World Bank mission will visit Haiti in July to finalize the document of intervention, and the signing of the agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The actions at the National Historic Park will include: the restoration of the Citadel; in particular the "Batterie Croix David", waterproofing and structural stabilization of the Sans-Souci Palace, the rehabilitation of the Jardin du Roi, of the Chapel of Sans Souci, and of the steeple; and the development of the Hôtel de la Monnaie...

The interventions in Cap Haitien include: the design and renovation of the old city jail, which will be converted inton a cultural and tourist center; improving the Boulevard du Cap-Haitien, and the restoration of its market. For the Historical Center, the agreement also includes the rehabilitation of old buildings along a tourist circuit that will be identified.

The Minister also had a meeting with Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Interamerican Development Bank. Recall that last December, the Ministry of Tourism had already signed an agreement with the IDB and CECI Haiti, for the creation of the management organization of the North as a tourist destination. This project, valued at U.S. $2.4 million is currently underway.