OAS official urges Haitian leaders to reassess approach to donor aid

OAS Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin met recently with Haitian President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Garry Conille and other high ranking officials.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Monday January 23, 2012 - Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin has told Haitian officials of the need for a more strategic and coordinated approach to donor aid, in 2012.

The issue was raised during discussions in the capital last week with Haiti’s President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Garry Conille, the Presidents of the Senate and the House of Deputies, and several high ranking government ministers.

Discussions between the OAS official and the prime minister focused on the need for donor aid to be more effective and for plans by international donors and NGOs to be streamlined.

Meetings were also held with representatives of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti – MINUSTAH - and the international community.

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin who is Chairman of the Haiti Task Force of the OAS and the Haiti Group of Friends in Washington, DC, reiterated the OAS’s continued commitment to the Caribbean country.

The OAS has several ongoing development projects in Haiti ranging from the civil registry, to education initiatives, a youth orchestra program and projects to assist persons with disabilities.

The OAS has also expressed interest in providing further support to Haiti through the development of a land registration project.

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin was accompanied by the Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board, Leuitenant General Guy Thibault, who was on an orientation visit to the OAS Member State. The new OAS Special Representative to Haiti, Frederic Bolduc, was also officially introduced. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)