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News from the Caribbean as of
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No change in American policy towards Haiti, says ambassador
Friday, April 14, 2006
by Vario Sérant
Caribbean Net News Haiti Correspondent
Email: vario@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: According to US Ambassador Janet Sanderson, there will be no significant changes in American policy towards the future government of Haiti.
On Wednesday, the new ambassador of the United States to Haiti said at a press conference at her residence at Bourdon, east of Port-au-Prince, "We are confident (in the election) process started last February 7 and will continue with the April 21 parliamentary elections (that) will lead to a Parliament which will discharge its mission adequately."
The American diplomat recalled that her country dreams of a "democratic, stable, prosperous and secure Haiti," and announced that the U.S. government will be tuned into priorities defined by the future government - as they currently do for the provisional government - to help them to materialize.
"I was charged by President Bush to reinforce the bilateral relations. We will continue the consultations with the Haitian leaders to reconcile our actions with the priorities established by the Haitian authorities," stressed Sanderson.
During a three day visit to the U.S. at the end of March, the president-elect requested additional aid of forty million dollars from the American administration for Haiti. Rene Préval justified this step by the need for the immediate creation of jobs throughout the country. This request has yet to be approved by Washington.
The future tenant of the Haitian Presidential Palace has been in talks with American officials about a textile development project dubbed "Hope" whose application could generate ten thousands of jobs, according to Rene Préval.
Responding to questions on this topic, the new American ambassador in Haiti said she recognizes that this "draft legislation can encourage the textile sector in Haiti," taking care to remain somewhat aloof about the specific discussions.
According to Sanderson, the American government has "an extremely important aid program in Haiti,” and has given Haiti more than five hundred millions dollars in assistance. "We are continuing our assistance program into the future.”
This was the first public meeting between Ambassador Sanderson and the Haitian press since her accreditation a month ago.
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