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News from the Caribbean as of
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European Union finances roads rehabilitation in Haiti
Friday, April 7, 2006
by Vario Sérant
Caribbean Net News Haiti Correspondent
Email: vario@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: By publicly laying the foundation for the roads to be built, the provisional Haitian Prime Minister launched a road reconstruction project which will connect the capital of Haiti to the city of Mirebalais (Center).
The new section of 43 kilometers (25 miles) will cost US$40 million and is financed by the European Development Fund of the European Union. According to Gerard Latortue, repairing this section will end the nightmare which inhabitants of the Center department endured for years.
Since downpours generally involve victims in "Morne ŕ Cabri" (a mountainous road), the chief of the interim government announced that his dream was to see this work begin before he departed office. A new government will take charge after the upcoming legislative elections set for April 21, 2006.
The Prime Minister stressed that completion of this work will further open the Center area and positively influence the cost of living, since transporting goods will be easier with improved roads.
Expressing the same sentiment, the representative of the European Union in Haiti affirmed that completing this project will increase accessibility to agricultural products of the Center area for three million consumers from the metropolitan area of the Haitian capital.
Pointing out that a country cannot develop without road infrastructure, Marcel Van Postal believes the Center area has strong potential for agricultural and tourist development.
This project of road rehabilitation should generate at least fifteen hundred jobs according to the ambassador Van Postal. The representative of the EU foresees the possibility that the European Union and other international institutions, such as the Inter-American Bank of Development may finance additional road infrastructure programs.
The public transportation Minister talked about precautions which were taken to ensure the road is built "under good conditions". "We can not allow the luxury of this road disappearing after ten years. Therefore, studies are necessary to ensure the durability of the work.”
The studies in question were carried out by the ELSAMEX construction firm. The firm is completing rehabilitation work under the supervision of BCEOM. The Public Transportation Ministry is acting as project manager for this project, which will last until April 4, 2008.
The official launch of rehabilitation work on the Port-au-Prince/Mirebalais road took place in the presence of the representative of the United Nations Program in Haiti (UNDP), Adama Guindo, and the Bishop of Hinche, Louis Kébreau.
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