Declaration: World Summit on the Future of Haiti: Solidarity beyond the Crisis

Headed by the President of the Republic of Haiti, René Prevál, and the President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna and the co-chairmen of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti, Their Excellencies William Clinton, former president of the United States and Special Envoy for the United Nations Secretary General and Jean Max Bellerive, Prime Minister and Minister for Planning and External Cooperation of Haiti, and Ambassador Edmond Mulet, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Mr. P.J. Patterson, representative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and Mr. José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of Organization of American States (OAS), and representatives from the Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM), the World Summit for the Future of Haiti, Solidarity beyond the Crisis, was held with the attendance of representatives from 100 countries and international organizations.

The aim of this Summit was to follow up on the status of the agreements taken on by the international community at the Haiti Donors Conference held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on March 31st, 2010.

At that time, the international community agreed on a total aid of 10 billion dollars over the next ten years, 5.3 billion dollars of which will be disbursed over the next 24 months.

In addition, the International Community endorsed the vision and Action Plan presented by the Haitian authorities, and which included the results of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), supporting political stability, strengthening of institutional capacities and the authority of the central State and local governments, and the creation of a favorable setting for the private sector and civil society to thrive within a democratic environment.

Moreover, the New York Conference approved the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (CIRH) and the Reconstruction Fund, whose trustee is the World Bank, with the aim of effectively channeling financial and technical resources, as well as the coordination among donors.

The members of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti were introduced at the World Summit for the Future of Haiti, Solidarity Beyond the Crisis, as well as its administrative structure and work timetable. This Commission is scheduled to be launched on June 7 in Port au Prince, and its first meeting will be held on the 14th of the same month.

The World Summit was organized around the four pillars of the Action Plan and discussed the list of investment projects associated with these pillars submitted by the Government of the Republic of Haiti. The discussions addressed the issue of decentralization via basic infrastructure projects, to provide sustainability to investment opportunities and human settlements; promote agricultural and industrial development; and establish education as a national priority.

The representatives of governments and international organizations, in the course of the deliberations of the various roundtables, agreed to analyze the list of programs and projects submitted in order to state their specific support in line with their areas of interest. A special emphasis was placed on the pertinent role of private investment and the strategic role that can be played by civil society organizations in contributing to attaining the objectives of the Action Plan for the Re-founding Haiti, and to the need to accompany investment projects with strengthening of the institutional capacities of the central administration and local governments of Haiti.

Concurrently, and bearing in mind the already stated support, it was recommended that a special effort be made to provide budgetary support to the Government of Haiti, which faces a deficit of 80 million dollars for 2010.

The World Summit for the Future of Haiti: Solidarity beyond the Crisis called upon all political sectors of Haiti to prioritize Dialogue as a mechanism for reaching agreements to ensure a climate of peace and stability. In this regard, it affirmed its support for the democratic institutional consolidation process of that nation, the immediate objective of which is to hold presidential elections this coming November.

Finally, the representatives of governments and international agencies expressed their appreciation for the special role played by the Dominican Republic in directing the solidarity efforts towards Haiti and emphasized the strategic role it will play throughout the re-founding process. Similarly, they agreed to support Haiti in its endeavors to achieve full integration into the Region.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, June 2, 2010.

Share:

Author: `