Local Production - Haiti Observer Blog

The opening of the first Marriot Hotel in Haiti is an important milestone in the Haitian history. The journey began four years ago when Denis O'Brien, the founder and chairman of the telecom giant Digicel Group, the largest Caribbean's mobile phone service provider, decided to invest $45 million in building Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel that presently employs about 200 Haitians, 96% of its total staff strength. The hotel exhibits an incredible collection of Haitian art throughout the property. The hotel buys their requirement as much as possible from the local markets, like items ranging from decor, bath products, foods and beverage. There were a lot of good hotels in Haiti but what it needed to help Haiti rebuild its tourism industry after the devastating 2010 earthquake was a multinational brand. The 175-room property in Port-au-Prince was opened to the guest on February 24th, this year.

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It has been a favorable year for the harvesting of certain crops in Haiti and, as such, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has made the commitment to buy at least 1,750 metric tons of rice grown locally by Haitian farmers. The rice will be put to use within the WFP school feeding program, and will benefit local producers.

Constituting a considerable increase from the amount of locally farmed rice bought by the WFP in 2012, this year's bid is over 500 tons more. From last year's count, other food stuff bought for the school program included 133 tons of ground corn and another 1,169 tons of rice donated to the cause.

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Do we really know how important the Haitian market is to the Dominican Republic? Maybe if we really know our forces, we would act differently. Haiti's dignity is once again attacked by the Dominican Republic. We need to react with force by closing our border to Dominican Products.

Mezanmi, Dominikin Ap Manje Mange'm Min Li Pa Vle Ban'm Bon Jan

Dominican Republic has much to lose from an eventual border closure with Haiti. Did you know that of all the products consumed in Haiti, Dominican Republic furnishes at least 30% of them?

Some of these products furnished by the Dominicans to the Haitian market are the most ridiculous because we have full capacity to produce them ourselves: They make money with us by exporting to Haiti: Cement, Bread, Chicken, Salami, Egg, Mango, Beans, Canned Food, Coconut, Rhum, Alcohol, Cigarette and Used clothe (Pèpè) just to name a few.

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Here is a video I found and wanted to share with you. In brief this video is being promoted by Harry Nicolas, AKA: Met Fey Vet. The video shows the various food items produced locally in Haiti that we can consume without the necessity to import from the Dominican republic or the US.

Mo Chè, pou-m di ou vrèman, Lè k map gade mage sa yo, Bouch mwen kole dlow"

Now do you remember Harry Nicolas. He is the Haitian nationalist who successfully organized the "Kita Nago". He helped organized the walk of unity. He is the same person who has been promoting this concept. "Ayiti Manje Lokal"

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