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29918: Potemaksonje (News) Jamaica pledges support towards Haitis development (fwd)
From Potemaksonje@yahoo.com
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3211.shtml
Jamaica pledges support towards Haiti’s development
By JIS
Updated Jan 25, 2007, 06:38 pmKINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) - Prime
Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller, recently reaffirmed Jamaica and
CARICOM’s commitment to assist Haiti to achieve its development goals.
“As Jamaica participates in the regional assistance program for Haiti, we seek
to make our contribution to the reconstruction process currently underway for
the economic and social development of our sister nation,” Prime Minister
Simpson Miller stated.
She further implored the wider international community to “stay the course
with Haiti and provide the financial and technical support as this is crucial
if the government is to succeed in its development plans.”
The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference following bilateral talks
with the President of Haiti, René Préval, who arrived in the island for a
four-day working visit.
She noted that President Preval’s visit to the island was to be viewed as a
critical step in strengthening bilateral relations between Jamaica and Haiti.
Outlining the outcome of the deliberations between herself and President
Préval, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said that high on the agenda was Haiti’s
technical preparation to accede to the revised treaty of Chaguaramas, a move
that would allow the country to participate in the Caribbean Single Market.
“It is my hope that this process can be completed as soon as possible,” she
said, while commending the Haitian President for adopting an inclusive approach
to governance, with a view to ensuring that democracy took root in the country.
She noted further that the leaders discussed a number of initiatives covering
tourism, agriculture, engagement with the Haitian Diaspora, education and
training, institutional strengthening and improving the social infrastructure.
“We both recognized that cooperation in agriculture and reforestation would be
beneficial to the Haitian economy and social infrastructure. The planting of
trees and the sharing of best practices would not only provide greater
agricultural yields, but would also serve to stem the risks of landslides and
flooding,” she stated.
For his part, President Préval thanked Prime Minister Simpson Miller for
sustaining Jamaica’s ties to Haiti, underlining that he believed the process
was beneficial to his country. He also updated the Prime Minister on the
political and economic situation in Haiti, including the status of support from
the international community.
A joint communiqué signed by both parties emphasized the importance of a
sustainable democracy in Haiti, supported by the rule of law, a secure and
stable environment and economic and social progress. The leaders also stated
their resolve to continue their efforts within the regional framework to ensure
that these objectives are met, while noting the importance of stability and
security to both countries.
The President and the Prime Minister shared the view that the visit served to
concretize many of the ideas put forward for enhanced cooperation between the
two countries. Accordingly, the leaders anticipate a period of strengthened
exchange, not only in terms of economic and social benefits, but also for the
people-to-people contact, which will contribute further to deepening the
integration process.
Meanwhile, they stressed that security forces in both countries were taking
strident moves to curtail the illegal gun and narcotics trade between Haiti and
Jamaica. “We have a plan of action, but we will not disclose it because I
believe that those persons involved in such activities should be caught by
surprise and be made to pay for their actions,” said Ms. Simpson Miller.
The leaders are expected to hold further talks at the convening of the first
Jamaica/Haiti Joint Commission in Jamaica, during the second quarter of 2007.
© Copyright 2007 FCN Publishing, FinalCall.com
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