29918: Potemaksonje (News) Jamaica pledges support towards Haitis development (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

> 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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