WASHINGTON, DC – The Organization of American States and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have undertaken to deepen their cooperation to promote stability and socio-economic development in Haiti. They also pledged to continue supporting efforts by that Caribbean country to mobilize resources to fund the initiatives under the National Strategy Paper for Growth and Poverty Reduction, with a particular focus on job-creation.
Assurances of this collaboration came as OAS Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin and several member state ambassadors briefed an ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti concerning OAS support programs and priority activities in the Caribbean country.
John McNee, the Canadian Permanent Representative to the UN, led a 12-member delegation from the UN’s New York headquarters, in his capacity as chairman of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group. The delegation of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti comprised UN Secretariat and member country ambassadors and representatives.
Chairing the meeting, held at the OAS headquarters, Ramdin offered an overview of how the hemispheric organization sees the outlook for Haiti, particularly following the visit to Haiti by an OAS Permanent Council mission this past February. He explained the OAS focus around high-level political engagement and accompaniment; modernizing Haiti’s civil registry; and support for the country’s long-term development efforts. The OAS side spoke as well about other initiatives, related to tourism, electoral system, disaster mitigation, trade, and capacity building, among other projects.
Ramdin also stressed the OAS’ insistence on encouraging a new approach to dealing with Haiti, telling the visiting UN-based delegation the organization has been seeking to foster more optimism and forward-thinking in terms of what needs to be done to strengthen democracy, the parliamentary process and governance.
“For the first time there is a unique opportunity in Haiti to be able to build on something which is hopefully going to be sustainable,” the Assistant Secretary General said, underscoring the relative political stability observed in Haiti.
During the meeting, held at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti outlined its basic objective to follow closely and provide advice on the long-term development strategy of Haiti to promote socio-economic recovery and stability.
“We are very fortunate to have the benefit of your views,” said McNee of the OAS briefing for the UN group, ahead of the donors’ conference scheduled to be held in Haiti later this month. The ECOSOC Advisory Group highlighted its particular interest in a more efficient system of aid delivery and donor coordination, institutional-capacity building and economic and social development in Haiti.
Haiti’s Ambassador to the OAS, Duly Brutus, thanked both the OAS and UN delegations for their ongoing interest and assistance to his country.
In a joint communiqué, both the OAS and ECOSOC delegations underscored their support for the initiatives of the government to bring about economic and social development in particular. Citing current demonstrations over the rising cost of living, they called upon all Haitians to work assiduously toward peace and prosperity and to ensure the democratic gains are not jeopardized. They also emphasized the urgent need for short-term support for job-creation to alleviate the impact of poverty and unemployment in Haiti
