Decentralization - Haiti Observer Blog

A political position important to the Martelly-Lamothe government is decentralization. An example of this philosophy has been the creation of a program called Katye Pam Poze. Essentially a speak-out forum, community members meet at local coffee houses to discuss the needs of the community. Government officials then take their concerns and address them at either the local or state level.

Last week Prime Minister Lamothe and Interior Terrotoriales Communities (MICT) Minister Bazile, along with European Union (EU) Ambassador to Haiti, Perez, came together to inaugurate another decentralization project, Investment Fund of Local Authorities (FICT).

FICT is subsumed under Appui à la Gouvernance et à l'Investissement Local en Haiti (AGIL), which has received funding from the EU in the amount of $5.5 million Euros. Of this amount, FICT will be apportioned 120 million gourdes to be used for 16 impoverished communities in North and North East Departments. MICT will add an extra 12 million gourdes for the project.

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President Michel Martelly's de-centralization initiative has taken a significant step forward with the opening of the First North Administrative Sociocultural Complex (FNASC) in Vaudreuil. All Department Directorates and local State agencies will be housed in the Complex. It is a big structure with room for more than 100 offices, a circular-tiered auditorium, and spacious meeting rooms. It contains structural accommodations for those with physical impairments including ramps and mobile staircase chairs.

Vandreuil Complex is part of a network of other such structures being built in Departments around the country. The government of Haiti (GOH) is administering the Complex project with help from the Technical Implementation Unit; Urban Rehabilitation Unit; and Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation. The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) is providing the funding.

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As part of its decentralization program the government of Haiti (GOH) has implemented since President Martelly assumed office, the city of Cap-Haïtien has been selected to be the venue for Carnival 2013. The event will be held on February 10, 11, and 12.

Ms. Elsa Baussan, representative from President Martelly's administrative staff, attended a meeting of the North-Area Office of the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) to plan the execution of Carnival in Cap-Haïtien. After the meeting, she spoke with the press, expressing President Martelly's desire tourists become acquainted with the "historical uniqueness of every region of the country"

Ardrouin Zéphyrin, North-Area's MOT representative, elated about the selection of Cap-Haïtien as Carnival's host, has committed all his department's resources to ensure the event is successful.

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The dates and the place for the next Carnival in Haiti has been scheduled. It will take place on February 10, 11 and 12 in the historic Haitian city of Cap-Haitian. Ms. Elza Beaussan who is at the head of the delegation visited Cap-Haitian on December 18, 2012 to begin the preparation for this big event.

After the city of Les Cayes last year, now it is the turn of Cap-Haitian to host the biggest event of the year which is the Carnival. This is part of the decentralization plan for the current government as they are using this annual event to help discover the entire country of Haiti

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In July, Haitian President Martelly, along with Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas and Food for the Poor Representative Daniel Rouzier, visited a village located in Nippes Department's Anse-à-Veau that was built for the displaced victims of the 2010 earthquake and the various floods in the department. It was a project done by the NGO Food for the Poor where about sixty homes were built. The trio also launched the town's new Sainte Anne Polytechnic School during their visit.

The Martelly administration has been launching several projects for the development of Haiti's economy and for the welfare of all Haitians, especially the victims of the devastating 2010 earthquake. It has also urged for the decentralization of the government's power and resources to local governments and smaller public sectors in order to extend its public service to the smallest of communes and villages.

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