6999: Fanmi Lavalas Govt Plan: The Policies (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

POLICIES

ECONOMIC POLICY
The economic policy Organization Fanmi Lavalas intends to apply revolves 
around a number of measures to be implemented in order to correct the 
imbalances noted in product markets, budget, currency and the external 
sector, but mostly, to reach the key objective which is to reduce the 
country's level of poverty.

In this perspective, the economic reforms will be oriented in the framework 
of Fanmi Lavalas' global policy aimed at increasing the average income of 
Haitians to a level above the poverty line.  The simultaneous implementation 
of social safety nets or emergency social funds from the creation of a 
generalized social contribution will guarantee a more equitable distribution 
of the wealth generated by growth to the benefit of the underprivileged. 

The results expected from this policy are the following:

- An increase of more than 4% the real gross national product for an average 
annual growth of 2% of the population.

- A reduction of the inflation rate from 16% to less than 10% so as to 
guarantee the purchasing power of households.

- A reduction of the unemployment rate by the creation of 500,000 steady jobs 
to provide a substantial income to a good portion of the population thus 
allowing them to satisfy the basic needs of consumption of goods and services.

- A stabilization of the exchange rate and the increase of hard currency 
reserves to support the financing of at least three months of imports.

To reach the objectives defined in its program, Fanmi Lavalas intends to 
implement administrative and institutional reforms, while also using the 
traditional tools of economic policy such as the budget, fiscal laws and 
currency.

In order to concretize the key objectives defined in the framework of its 
economic and social program.  Organization Fanmi Lavalas depends on the 
availability of funds apt to be disbursed. In this view the actions to be 
undertaken in the area of taxation will allow:

1. To earmark sufficient and stable resources to guarantee national coverage 
of the state's responsibilities;

2.  To attract Haitian (both local and from the 10th department) and foreign 
capital through tax incentives and a new investment code.

SOCIAL POLICY
The poor quality of life of the Haitian population bears witness to the great 
poverty is plagued with.  If one refers to the variables of deprivation used 
to calculate the global index of human poverty (IGP) such as: the illiteracy 
rate, the percentage of people expected to die before reaching the age of 40, 
nonaccess to healthcare and potable water and the percentage of children 
under five who are malnourished. Haiti is really one of the poorest countries 
in the world.  However, for Fanmi Lavalas, poverty is not a stigma and the 
poor are not necessarily the cause of their poorness.  Quite to the contrary, 
they are able to transform their misery into well-being, inasmuch as 
shortcuts, bridges or openings are clearly indicated to them.

The Organization's policy in social matters gives the greatest priority to 
satisfying the needs of those most deprived in the way of basic education and 
health care.  Thus, with 2006 as a horizon, it intends to increase the rate 
of schooling and literacy, to lower the rate of mother-child mortality, to 
curb demographic growth and raise life expectancy.  The Organization will 
also address the needs pertaining to demographic growth, the status of women, 
social security, culture, sports, etc.


POPULATION POLICY
The Organization's policy will aim at increasing life expectancy at birth, 
promoting desired impregnation in lieu and place of suffered impregnation and 
to guarantee the responsible exercise of the right to reproduce.  For this 
purpose, the Organization will intervene in the following areas:

- the protection of life

- reproductive health

- the right to reproduce

- migration

SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY
Over the next five years, the actions to be implemented by the Organization 
in this area will allow to:

- Ensure the efficiency of the health insurance coverage system of public 
employees entrusted to the private sector;

- Bridge the gap between the State's social protection system and that of the 
private sector;

- Create a generalized contribution;

- Prepare a Master plan of the National Office of Old Age Insurance (ONA) and 
of the Labor and Maternity Insurance Office (OFATMA);

- Reorganize the available safety nets and social funds of the Caisse 
d'Action Sociale (CAS) and of the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES).

GENDER AND CHILDHOOD POLICY
Fanmi Lavalas will work towards the legal, material and intellectual 
advancement of Haitian women, the country's main pillars. Indeed, the 
strategies defined in this program all take into account the fundamental role 
of women in the fight against poverty, their weight in the formal sector, 
their low salaries, their family burdens and others.  The Organization will 
target especially, but not exclusively, women from the underprivileged 
populations, in its actions to reduce sexual violence and exploitation, 
infectious diseases, illiteracy and dilution by credit.

The Organization will place the greatest priority on issues pertaining to 
childhood.  It will also take the necessary measures to gradually implement 
the already ratified Convention of Children's Rights.  Very special 
importance will be placed on the thorny issue of domestic child labor.

YOUTH AND SPORTS POLICY
The Organization is convinced that the youth of communes and communal 
sections have enormous organizational and motivational skills that can be 
easily mobilized.  It will encourage them to improve the structure of their 
associations, create new ones where needed, and to adopt a mode of operation 
governed by modern rules.  These organizations that are to be implemented 
throughout the country will become places where the young will find it easier 
to learn in teams about the exercise of responsibility, the practice of 
democracy and the sense of solidarity.

In partnership with the Haitian Olympic Committee, the National Sports 
Federations, the Leagues of Sport Clubs, the business private sector and the 
international sports organization and high level sports will receive the 
Organization's undivided attention.

The Organization will work in order to bring a marked improvement to young 
people's economic and social status.  The underemployment that affects them 
is one of the most crucial issues faced by Haitian society.  In partnership 
with the territorial assemblies, the private sector, and the associative 
world, the Organization will implement a plan for the insertion of young 
people from under privileged areas in active life.

CULTURAL POLICY
The country's patrimony, constituted by various sites, historic monuments and 
places that have acquired their value from 1804 to date, contribute to the 
cultural enrichment of humanity.  In spite of its low rate of literacy, Haiti 
is one of the most dynamic French-speaking countries in the area of book 
production.  The country's two languages as well as vodou constitute strong 
signs of this people's ability to break its chains and reach the heights of 
creation.  Given its importance, this sector will receive the Organization's 
undivided attention.

The Organization's policy in this sector revolves around the following axis:

1.  The redefinition of the mission and objectives of autonomous agencies;

2.  The conservation, protection and valorization of the patrimony and 
cultural traditions;

3.  The improvement of the quality of the plastic and performing arts;

4.  The democratization of the new information technology;

5.  The support of creation and regulation of the art market;

6.  The production of audiovisual materials and literacy broadcasts.

POLICY TOWARDS LABOR UNIONS
In most cases, Haitian laborers do not belong to a syndicated organization.  
Today, however, many salaried employees are desirous to fully exercise their 
right to syndicate through existing or future labor unions.

For Organization Fanmi Lavalas, the freedom to syndicate is a principle that 
cannot be submitted to any prior constraint.  The laborer has no requirement 
to request from his employer to join a labor union or to create one with a 
group of colleagues or comrades.  He is the sole master of his choice of 
affiliation or non-affiliation with a labor union.  For the Organization, 
exercising this constitutional right should not have any consequence 
whatsoever on the laborer's job security.

SPECIFIC POLICIES
REINTEGRATION OF HAITIANS LIVING ABROAD
In order to aspire to an intelligent and harmonious development, the country 
needs the contribution of all its children, those living abroad as well as 
those living on the native soil.  Fanmi Lavalas in its fight against all 
forms of injustice or exclusion towards Haitians living here or elsewhere, 
who have contributed and are still contributing to the construction of the 
Haiti of peace and freedom so hoped for, has already indicated in its  Livre 
Blanc (White Book), the path it means to take to solve this serious problem 
is indeed contrary to all logic that a country keeps on denying its own 
children who, in addition, are its first donors.

The Tenth Department is an inexhaustible source of wealth for Haiti.  All 
Haitians are convinced of this.  The citizens living abroad constitute one of 
the major pillars of a modern society bearer of progress, ingeniousness, 
wealth and peace.  All values that the citizens of the Tenth Department are 
ready to promote with those who have remained at home or returned to the 
country.

DIPLOMATIC POLICY
There is a need to affirm a responsible diplomacy, linked to a modern, active 
and serious foreign policy, apt to adjust to the new international movement, 
to defend more than ever the nation's prestige, dignity and interests.

EXTERNAL COOPERATION POLICY
The international cooperation policy is designed in the sense of safekeeping 
national interests in a perfect compatibility with the global policy of 
national development.  The major guidelines for negotiating foreign aid 
granted in the form of loans or donations in a bilateral or multilateral 
framework, must be defined on this basis.

In the short term, the action will consist of a general reorganization of the 
assistance provided in order to bring out the facilitation or modalities for 
the quickest and most appropriate use of the monies available.

POLICY FOR COOPERATING WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
The efforts deployed by NGOs in the areas of health, education, and community 
development are valuable.  Organization Fanmi Lavalas will do its best to 
create the conditions favorable to the valorization and coordination of their 
activities.

For this purpose, parallel to the renovation of the legal framework, Fanmi 
Lavalas will organize periodic round tables, both nationally and locally, in 
order to find a synergy between the projects of the public sector and those 
of the NGO sector according to the development objectives retained.  The 
programs will thus be executed according to certain partnership formulas.