PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza wrapped up a visit to Haiti today, saying the high-level mission he accompanied there presented proposals and offered ideas on the kind of assistance needed to tackle the food crisis the Caribbean nation faces. The Secretary General led a delegation that met with President René Préval and other political leaders as well as community and business leaders to offer the support as representatives of the Group of Friends of Haiti.
Insulza said the group of diplomats was keen on hearing suggestions as to the kind of assistance Haiti needs in order to tackle the underlying problems facing the society.
The mission comprised representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States as well as the European Union and the United Nations. On Friday morning they held separate meetings with the leaders of the eleven main political parties and with private sector and civil society leaders as well. Insulza and the other members of the delegation reviewed along with their Haitian hosts the situation in the country, agreeing that the Préval government had made significant strides in bringing about democratic stability nationwide, and that aid coordination is vital to solving the underlying economic problems.
Secretary General Insulza said that “during this whirlwind visit we offered President Préval our total solidarity and support to help the country overcome the recent situation that stemmed from food shortage which affected Haitians.” With respect to run-away prices hikes that led to the food crisis, he said Haiti was not the only country facing this problem but rather the whole world as well. He said the countries with the most vulnerable economies were evidently the hardest hit.
Insulza described the crisis as an opportunity for Haiti to expand its agricultural production to get back to producing rice and other food items for the local market and perhaps even for exporting to the international market.
The OAS Secretary General expressed confidence about the prospects for a new Prime Minister to be appointed soon, as President Préval has been consulting with the Members of Parliament on a consensus candidate for the Senate to approve as soon as possible.
The Mission wrapped up an intense visit to Haiti on Friday afternoon (April 25).
