ARTICLE - ALBA IN HAITI - MARCH - JACMEL

ALBA WILL MEET IN HAITI EARLY MARCH IN JACMEL
(Haiti Libre) -

On the occasion of the XI Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), at which a Haitian delegation led by President Michel Martelly [Haiti is an observer member] took part, the member countries agreed to strengthen their cooperation through a "special plan" for Haiti. "It is the responsibility of the countries of Latin America to remain united to help Haiti," said President Chavez, who announced that the Chancellors of the member countries will meet in Haiti on March 2-3, 2012 in the historical and touristic town of Jacmel, to develop a detailed work plan for this new cooperation. "We must find 1,000 ways to strengthen cooperation with Haiti; find resources, invent, create", declared Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after the signing of the agreement that will allow Venezuela and Haiti among others, to develop complementary market share.

Previously, President Chavez had invited the Haitian government to use the Unit System of Regional Compensation of Payments (SUCRE), a system used by member countries of ALBA for imported and exported products.

Chavez explained that, for example, "if a Venezuelan importer buys textiles from Bolivia, he does not need dollars to be paid in bolivars here, (at a Venezuelan bank that gives these bolivars to the Central Bank of Venezuela); as part of SUCRE, the Central Bank of Venezuela transfers these funds to the Central Bank of Bolivia. Therefore, the Venezuelan importer has paid goods in local currency. It's wonderful!"

About the use of SUCRE, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, said that it was a powerful tool for trade within Alba. "We need to promote fair trade within Alba, and we must avoid the use of foreign currency [as in U.S. dollars]. In our exchange, currencies are a vulnerability for us."

Cuban Chancellor, Bruno Rodriguez reported that the agreement signed with Haiti, included the creation of a humanitarian fund called "The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas - Treaty of Commerce of the Peoples (ALBA-TCP)" and also included, works and logistics for the recovery of this nation: infrastructure, transport, technical support and supply of fuel necessary in Haiti for the functioning of power plants in three regions of Haiti, in addition to continued support of existing Petro Caribe funds.