Haiti - Reconstruction : "Job creation will be the cornerstone"

Speaking to participants of the Conference of the Americas 2010 held in Miami, Pamela Cox, Vice-President of the World Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti are essential to ensure independence and prosperity of the country and enable it to offer opportunities to all its citizens. However, Ms. Cox said, "progress in the region will not be complete without the reconstruction and development of Haiti.

According to it the short-term priorities in Haiti are: solving the housing problems, clearing rubble, re-open more schools during the school year, attracting private investment, particularly in the area of garment ; and sustainable improvements in the fiscal and financial systems. "Job creation will be the cornerstone of the recovery of Haiti.
With support from the World Bank, progress has been achieved [...] offices were bought and prepared for the Ministry for the Economy and Finances, thanks to these new buildings, which can shelter more than 500 people, the ministry can again function" Stressing that funds were put at the disposal of government to help it to pay the wages of the civils servant.

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are among the first to contribute to the recovery of Haiti "Latin America has also shown a real commitment to the Haitian cause. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay contributed in a crucial way to the maintenance of peace and safety in the country", said Ms. Cox. "UNASUR has recently provided $100 million (65% already disbursed), and several countries have provided assistance bilaterally or through the Fund for the Reconstruction of Haiti (FRH).

While speaking about the FRH is difficult to see any reason of satisfaction, let us recall that this funds was to receive 500 million dollars initially from the international financial backers but that 6 months after the catastrophe, the Funds had received only 19% of this amount (98 million). Pamela Cox had declared mid-July "We are not satisfied, I would like to see most the money promised available by the end of this year". In the last report of the United Nations Security Council (September 1st, 2010), it is mentioned that the amount of money received in the FRH remains modest and rises to 134.2 million dollars (+ 36.2 million in 2 months...

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