Haiti Libre
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On the occasion of the XI Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) to which took part a Haitian delegation led by President Michel Martelly [Haiti is an observer member] the member countries agreed to strengthen their cooperation through a “special plan” for Haiti. “It is the responsibility of the countries of Latin America to remain united to help Haiti,” said President Chavez, who announced that the Chancellors of the member countries will meet in Haiti on March 2-3, 2012 in the historical and tourist town of Jacmel, to develop a detailed work plan for this new cooperation “We must find 1,000 ways to strengthen cooperation with Haiti, find resources, invent, create” declared Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after the signing of the agreement that will allow Venezuela and Haiti among others to develop complementary market share.
Previously, President Chavez had invited the Haitian government to use the Unit System of Regional Compensation of Payments (SUCRE), a system used by member countries of ALBA for imported and exported products.
Chavez explained that, for example, “if a Venezuelan importer buys textiles from Bolivia, he does not need dollars he paid in bolivars here, in a Venezuelan bank that gives these bolivars to the Central Bank of Venezuela, that, as part of SUCRE, transfers these funds to the Central Bank of Bolivia. Thus, the Venezuelan importer has paid goods in local currency. It’s wonderful!”
About the use of SUCRE, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, said that it was a powerful tool for trade within the Alba “We need to promote fair trade within the Alba and we must avoid the use of foreign currency [as heard U.S. dollars] in our exchange, currencies are a vulnerability for us.”
Cuban Chancellor, Bruno Rodriguez reported that the agreement signed with Haiti, included the creation of a humanitarian fund of “The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas – Treaty of Commerce of the Peoples (ALBA-TCP)” and also included, works and logistics for the recovery of this nation: infrastructure, transport, technical support and supply of fuel necessary in Haiti for the functioning of power plants in three regions of Haiti, in addition to continued support of existing funds Petro Caribe
This was/is supposed to the point where the Iranian president appeared. It will be interesting to see what happens.
The Martelly team now deny the story but people inside their government say the dossier exists.
The truth will emerge some time.
Martelly seems to see himself as the new young populist leader in the area, supported by the young of Haiti. He does not see that the young still love him but are becoming frustrated with his lack of substantial activity.
The promise of security and schooling remain empty promises as the streets become more dangerous and teachers remain unpaid.
We wish him the best, but do not remain optimistic, especially when Martelly depends so much on Laurent Lamothe who knows next to nothing about geopolitics.