Carib Scope

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  • Required Real Estate Agent Licensing in the Dominican Republic: Proposed Law Still in Discussion

    Required Real Estate Agent Licensing in the Dominican Republic: Proposed Law Still in Discussion

    The Dominican Republic’s real estate sector stands as one of the most robust and dynamic economic forces in the Caribbean, drawing billions of dollars in combined local and foreign investment annually. Yet for all its economic weight, this high-growth industry has operated for years without a unified, comprehensive regulatory framework governing professional real estate practice—a gap that has opened the door to widespread misconduct that endangers investors and undermines market integrity.

    Unqualified, unlicensed practitioners have flooded the unregulated market, bringing with them a rash of deceptive and fraudulent activities. Common bad-faith practices include marketing properties with no valid legal title, launching development projects with false or misleading advertising about amenities, timelines or pricing, and engaging unethical financial arrangements that put both domestic and cross-border investors at severe risk of financial harm. Without formal regulation, buyers and investors have no guaranteed legal recourse when they fall victim to these scams, leaving many to absorb devastating, irreversible financial losses.

    To close this regulatory gap and root out systemic misconduct, lawmakers and industry leaders have advanced a landmark real estate regulation bill that would place all licensed practitioners under the direct oversight of the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED) through its dedicated Department of Registration, Control, and Real Estate Intermediation.

    According to Alberto Bogaert, president of the Dominican Association of Real Estate Companies and Agents (AEI), the bill has been under active review in both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies since 2023, but has yet to receive a final approval vote. Bogaert notes that three core barriers have stalled the legislation: limited legislative prioritization among other national policy goals, low awareness among lawmakers of the real estate sector’s outsized contribution to the national economy, and insufficient coordinated institutional pressure to advance the bill through the full legislative process. Over the past three years, AEI has held repeated meetings with key legislative committees to emphasize the urgent need for the reform, but it remains classified as a non-priority within the country’s broader national investment regulatory framework, despite open support from government officials for the initiative.

    If ultimately enacted, the bill would enact sweeping changes to market operation, starting with a mandatory national licensing requirement for all real estate agents, promoters and developers. No professional would be allowed to facilitate property transactions or market real estate assets without first securing official authorization from the regulatory body.

    A core focus of the legislation is increasing market transparency, with a formal definition of misleading advertising that covers misleading claims across both digital and traditional media related to a property’s features, availability, pricing, project delivery timelines, and sales terms. Additional provisions prohibit agents from engaging in transactions for properties they do not hold legal rights to, as well as the misuse of client deposit funds—all designed to strengthen consumer protection and rebuild public trust in the sector.

    To enforce compliance, the bill outlines strict penalties for violations, including fines of up to 50 times the national minimum wage and temporary suspension of operating licenses for repeat or severe misconduct. The legislation also explicitly bans a range of unethical practices: unauthorized purchase of properties that an agent has been contracted to sell, artificial manipulation or simulation of offers to inflate or manipulate property prices, and charging hidden fees or unwritten commissions that were not pre-disclosed and agreed to by clients.

    Agents will also face legal liability if they recommend a transaction they know carries significant legal or financial risk without advising their client to retain independent legal counsel, a standard designed to reinforce that professional due diligence is a core requirement of ethical practice. All agents will be required to disclose all relevant terms to clients before initiating any transaction, embedding transparency into every step of the property process. Finally, the law will formalize legal recognition for all documented contracts covering property transfer, lease, and usufruct, including payment, contribution and exchange arrangements, bringing long-overdue legal clarity to real estate transactions across the country.

  • Mexico, Spanje en Brazilië steunen Cubaanse soevereiniteit

    Mexico, Spanje en Brazilië steunen Cubaanse soevereiniteit

    A gathering of left-wing political leaders from across the globe held in Barcelona on Saturday has drawn international attention, after three major regional heads of state issued a joint statement sounding the alarm over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Cuba while reaffirming unwavering support for the Caribbean island’s territorial sovereignty and self-determination.

    Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, co-authored the statement, which explicitly pushed back against the sustained pressure campaign led by U.S. President Donald Trump that aims to force regime change in Havana. The three leaders committed their administrations to expanding existing humanitarian assistance programs to Cuba to help alleviate ongoing hardship on the island.

    In their formal statement, the trio emphasized that any sustainable resolution to Cuba’s current challenges must center the fundamental right of the Cuban people to shape their own future in full autonomy. They also issued a clear warning against actions that violate established international law as outlined in the United Nations Charter, a direct reference to Washington’s unilateral coercive measures against Havana.

    The United States has maintained a sweeping trade embargo against Cuba since the Cold War era, but the Trump administration has drastically escalated economic and political pressure on the island in recent months. Since January, Washington has banned all imports of Venezuelan crude oil, and has threatened to impose harsh secondary sanctions on any third-party countries that continue to supply fuel to Cuba. This pressure campaign has already triggered severe fuel shortages and widespread rolling power outages across Cuba, exacerbating existing humanitarian struggles.

    Trump has also ramped up rhetorical aggression against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, recently suggesting that the U.S. could launch military intervention in Cuba once the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict is resolved.

    During the Barcelona summit, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez delivered a sharp rebuke of right-wing populist movements and growing attacks on multilateralism, stopping short of naming Trump directly. The U.S. president responded within hours via social media, attacking Spain for its refusal to allow the U.S. to use Spanish military bases for regional operations and criticizing Madrid’s alleged insufficient defense spending.

    Despite mounting international pressure from Washington, Díaz-Canel maintained a defiant stance during a Thursday address marking the 65th anniversary of Cuba’s socialist revolution. He warned the Cuban public of the rising risk of foreign military aggression and stressed the nation’s obligation to maintain full defensive preparedness to protect its sovereignty.

  • More rain is coming: a trough will intensify downpours starting Thursday

    More rain is coming: a trough will intensify downpours starting Thursday

    Residents of the Dominican Republic are bracing for several days of disrupted weather conditions, as a combination of a low-pressure trough and an incoming humid air mass set the stage for heightened rainfall beginning Thursday, according to national meteorological officials.

    Speaking from the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), lead meteorologist Cristopher Florian explained that the combined system, paired with the south and southeastward shift of the trough, will drive a sharp rise in atmospheric moisture across the island nation. This uptick in humidity will not be limited to Thursday alone, Florian noted: rainfall will remain a prominent feature through Friday, with intense downpours, thunderstorm activity, and even a measurable risk of small hail in the country’s higher-elevation mountainous regions.

    The unstable pattern will extend across the entire remainder of the week, far beyond just the Thursday-Friday window, forecasters confirmed. Even on Wednesday, conditions already mirror the unsettled trend, as the existing trough maintains its position over the region and is joined by a second trough system, triggering scattered rain events across multiple districts of the country.

    While meteorologists do not project extreme, record-breaking cumulative rainfall totals over the coming days, a key hazard remains: saturated soil from recent precipitation events has left many areas vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides, meaning existing national alert levels will stay in effect for the foreseeable future.

    Forecasters have mapped out a timeline for rain progression on the current day: precipitation will first emerge across the country’s interior regions by early afternoon, with light to moderate showers expected to arrive around 1:00 p.m. in populous provinces including Puerto Plata, Santiago, Espaillat, and Hermanas Mirabal.

    By late afternoon, around 5:00 p.m., rainfall activity is projected to intensify across western, central, and southern provinces including Santiago Rodríguez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, La Vega, and La Romana. For the capital city of Santo Domingo, cloud cover will begin building by 6:00 p.m., creating conditions that can quickly spawn intense localized downpours across the metro area.

  • The director of Indomet reiterates that the rains will persist for the rest of the week

    The director of Indomet reiterates that the rains will persist for the rest of the week

    Top Dominican Republic meteorological officials have stood by their earlier forecast for a rain-dominated week, confirming that after a 48-hour lull in precipitation, intense downpours will return to much of the country through the weekend.

    Gloria Ceballos, director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), made the announcement Thursday, noting that the brief reduction in rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday was only a temporary shift within the broader established weather pattern. She explained that the ongoing combination of elevated atmospheric humidity and warm southeast winds continues to pull moisture-heavy cloud formations inland from surrounding seas, setting the stage for renewed heavy rain starting this Thursday afternoon and continuing into the evening.

    Ceballos specified that this wet weather system will hold steady across the country through Friday, before tapering to lower intensity rain showers that will still persist across the weekend of Saturday and Sunday.

    The heaviest precipitation will be concentrated in the country’s eastern, central and northern regions, as well as along the border zone shared with neighboring Haiti. In response to the forecast, authorities have issued two tiers of weather alerts for affected provinces. A yellow alert, indicating elevated risk of weather-related hazards, is in effect for 14 jurisdictions: Santo Domingo, the National District, San José de Ocoa, Santiago Rodríguez, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Monseñor Nouel, La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, La Romana, El Seibo, Hato Mayor and La Vega. A lower-level green alert, calling for continued precaution, has been activated for 12 additional areas: María Trinidad Sánchez, Monte Plata, Duarte (with a particular focus on the Lower Yuna region), Hermanas Mirabal, Samaná, Espaillat, Sánchez Ramírez, Valverde, Montecristi, San Juan, Independencia, and Elías Piña.

    Emergency management officials are urging the public to remain vigilant as the wet conditions extend into the weekend. Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE), reiterated that residents should not drop their guard against potential flood and landslide risks tied to the prolonged rainfall. He specifically warned people living in high-risk zones to avoid attempting to cross swollen rivers, streams and ravines, and emphasized the importance of staying updated on changing conditions through official government bulletins and the national emergency hotlines 911 and 809-472-0909.

  • Parmessar pleit voor versterkte parlementaire samenwerking op IPU-bijeenkomst in Turkije

    Parmessar pleit voor versterkte parlementaire samenwerking op IPU-bijeenkomst in Turkije

    On Saturday, at the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) global conference hosted in Türkiye, Rabin Parmessar, leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) parliamentary faction in Suriname, delivered a landmark address to an assembly of over 1,000 parliamentary representatives from more than 150 countries.

    Parmessar centered his speech on the urgent need for coordinated cross-border parliamentary collaboration to address pressing shared global challenges. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical friction across multiple regions, he emphasized that robust democratic institutions, unwavering commitment to democratic values, and shared global responsibility are non-negotiable foundations for navigating today’s turbulent international landscape.

    As one of the world’s largest multilateral platforms for parliamentary dialogue, the IPU conference brings together not only elected parliamentarians but also delegates from dozens of international intergovernmental organizations and civil society non-governmental organizations. The summit serves as a critical space for constructive discussion and coordination on core global issues ranging from democratic governance and inclusive sustainable development to international peace and security.

    In his remarks, Parmessar also highlighted the outsized importance of continued active engagement from smaller sovereign nations in global multilateral forums. Specifically pointing to his own country Suriname, he stressed that national parliaments across all states, regardless of size or economic power, play an irreplaceable role in upholding governmental transparency, advancing good governance, and ensuring accountability to citizens.

    Parmessar is leading the three-person Surinamese parliamentary delegation to the conference, joined by Asis Gajadien, parliamentary faction leader of the Progressive People’s Party (VHP), and Ines Pané of the Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy (ABOP). Suriname’s participation in this year’s IPU conference aligns with the country’s broader long-term diplomatic strategy to strengthen its global standing and deepen its contributions to inclusive multilateral cooperation, according to delegation sources.

  • GBB grijpt in bij gronduitgifte Apoera; BV’s ingetrokken en South-Drain opnieuw bekeken

    GBB grijpt in bij gronduitgifte Apoera; BV’s ingetrokken en South-Drain opnieuw bekeken

    In an official announcement dated April 19, Stanley Soeropawiro, Suriname’s Minister of Land and Forest Management (GBB), has ordered the revocation of multiple statements of willingness (BVs) for land parcels located along the highway leading to Apoera, following the confirmation of procedural violations during the original allocation process. Simultaneously, a separate land parcel at South-Drain, earmarked for the construction of a new docking pier, has been placed on an accelerated re-evaluation track to resolve outstanding procedural questions.

    An internal ministry audit found that the initial land allocations failed to fully comply with existing regulatory protocols and legal requirements. According to a statement from the GBB, decisive intervention was a necessary step to restore the rule of law in land allocation processes and safeguard public trust in the government’s management of state land resources. The ministry emphasized that it is proactively addressing all confirmed irregularities, with a dual focus on upholding legal certainty and advancing sustainable long-term development across the entire Apoera region.

    Beyond the Apoera road parcels, the South-Drain plot is undergoing a full second review across both legal and administrative dimensions. Internal ministry reports have flagged potential gaps and shortcomings in the original decision-making process that led to the parcel’s allocation, as well as in subsequent administrative actions related to the site. Minister Soeropawiro has issued a formal warning that any legal transactions involving the South-Drain parcel carry significant unaddressed legal risks, and has called on all involved parties to refrain from entering into such agreements until the review is completed.

    The South-Drain parcel is classified as a strategically critical asset for the broader economic and infrastructure development of the Corantijn region, as well as for overland connectivity to Apoera. Because of this strategic importance, the legality and validity of all original decisions regarding the site will undergo a full, comprehensive audit to resolve all outstanding questions.

    The Surinamese state has reserved the right to pursue additional legal action or implement alternative arrangements aligned with the public good if the review finds that further action is necessary. Once the full legal review process is concluded, the Ministry of Land and Forest Management will release a full public update on the findings and next steps.

  • Cap

    Cap

    Haiti’s northern region has formally opened its slate of centennial celebrations honoring iconic Haitian writer René Depestre, launching the regional program on Friday, April 17, 2026 with a curated retrospective exhibition at Cap-Haïtien’s Musée de la Monnaie (Museum of the Mint).

    The exhibition uses immersive informational panels to guide visitors through the extraordinary dual literary and political career of Depestre, best known for his groundbreaking work *Alléluia pour une femme-jardin* (Hallelujah for a Woman-Garden). The launch event brought together cultural leaders, literary institutions, and community members to honor Depestre’s enduring legacy as one of Haiti’s most influential cultural voices.

    In his opening remarks to attendees, Marc Exavier, national coordinator for the centennial celebration year, shared exciting news for literary audiences: a newly reissued complete collection of Depestre’s poetic works, titled *Rage de vivre* (Rage to Live), has just been released and featured in French literary media. The reissue brings Depestre’s powerful poetry back into print for a new generation of readers.

    Alteery Maxi Marc, director of Cap-Haïtien’s Alliance Française, used the occasion to highlight Depestre’s lasting contributions to Caribbean and world literature while drawing attention to the critical role of reading in youth development. Speaking on behalf of Ernst Saint Louis, director general of Haiti’s National Book Directorate (DNL), Stephania Duchel extended formal gratitude to the network of partner cultural institutions that made the launch event and larger centennial program possible. She also reaffirmed the DNL’s long-standing commitment to its core mission: expanding access to books and fostering a culture of reading across every region of Haiti.

    The opening celebration was enriched by live performances, with actors Micken Jeanite and Billy Desir delivering dramatic readings of selections from Depestre’s most beloved works. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Haitian jazz ensemble Stars 262 provided musical entertainment throughout the event.

    Notable guests in attendance included Fritz Alphonse Jean, former presidential transitional advisor; Angélique Jules Verdilus, director of the Museum of the Mint; and Alteery Maxi Marc, representing the Alliance Française. The nationwide centennial initiative first launched on August 29, 2025, and will run through August 29, 2026, with events planned across multiple Haitian cities to bring Depestre’s work to new audiences.

    For audiences interested in engaging further with Haitian literary culture, three interactive educational games focused on Haitian literature are available for public access at https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en, located under the Haiti “Literature” menu. The event was reported by iciHaiti.

  • Haiti : The Ministry of Public Works takes action in response to emergencies

    Haiti : The Ministry of Public Works takes action in response to emergencies

    In the wake of destructive torrential downpours that battered Haiti’s capital and multiple regional areas across the country, the nation’s Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC) has launched a large-scale emergency mobilization to mitigate damage and protect at-risk communities.

    With heavy rains having severely stretched Haiti’s already fragile infrastructure and pushed vulnerable populations into heightened danger, the MTPTC has restructured its operational priorities to center urgent, life-saving interventions. The ministry has paused lower-priority long-term rehabilitation projects to reallocate labor and resources to three core emergency tasks: dredging flood-prone water canals, clearing blocked roadways, and delivering direct aid to communities facing the most severe risk.

    On-the-ground operations are already underway across hard-hit zones. In the Carrefour Rita district, crews are actively dredging the Brisetout canal to expand its water capacity and reduce the threat of catastrophic flash flooding. Intensive dredging and manual debris clearing are also progressing in the Gonaïves Station area, as well as along Lamarre and Lamartine streets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.

    On National Road #3, a critical transportation artery near Morne Granjil, rapid response teams from the North Departmental Directorate of Public Works acted quickly to address a major landslide that blocked the route. Crews cleared fallen rock and dirt, removed damaged infrastructure, and righted overturned trucks, allowing traffic to resume on the key route within a short timeframe and avoiding a prolonged shutdown that would have disrupted supply chains and emergency access.

    In the country’s Northwest department, crews continue working to reopen road access to the community of Anse-à-Foleur, while the vital connection between Port-de-Paix and Saint-Louis-du-Nord was restored rapidly after storm damage. In Haiti’s South department, the road leading to Jérémie remains cut off near Roseau amid extremely challenging conditions, but response teams have maintained full commitment to clearing the route and restoring traffic as quickly as possible.

    Beyond immediate emergency response, ministry officials have noted that the severe alluvial sediment buildup and frequent landslides impacting downstream areas are rooted in decades of inadequate environmental management across the country. To address the root cause of repeated flood and landslide disasters, the MTPTC is calling for a strategic shift to upstream, sustainable solutions centered on improved watershed management to prevent future crises.

    To advance this long-term resilience goal, the MTPTC has established close coordinated working partnerships with multiple government stakeholders, including the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Secretariat for Territorial Communities, the Directorate General of Civil Protection, and the National Emergency Response Service (SNGRS).

    In a statement, the Haitian government emphasized that emergency response and long-term resilience cannot be achieved by public authorities alone. “This response cannot be complete without everyone’s involvement,” the statement read. “The Government calls for collective mobilization, because it is through unity, shared responsibility, and solidarity that national resilience is built.”

  • The Ministry of the Environment is changing its paradigm in Haiti

    The Ministry of the Environment is changing its paradigm in Haiti

    In a landmark gathering held at Port-au-Prince’s Karibe Convention Center on April 16, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment launched a transformative new approach to environmental governance, reframing climate and ecological action as a foundational pillar of the country’s stability, public safety and long-term economic recovery. The two-day strategic planning and consultation summit brought together ministry leadership and key technical and financial partners to align cross-sector work around a newly articulated national vision.

    Jean Marie Claude Germain stood in for Planning Minister Sandra Paulemon, who was traveling on official government business in the United States for the event. In his opening remarks, Germain reinforced the Haitian government’s commitment to improving coordination of international development cooperation, ensuring all external interventions align closely with nationally defined priorities. He praised the ongoing dedication of international partners to Haiti’s development goals and expressed confidence that the new strategic framework would strengthen shared objectives, streamline overlapping interventions, and speed up the delivery of tangible results to communities across the country.

    Following Germain’s opening address, Valéry Fils-Aimé, Haiti’s recently appointed Minister of the Environment, outlined the ministry’s full strategic roadmap, marking a clear break from previous approaches to environmental management. Fils-Aimé emphasized that the environmental sector is no longer treated as a secondary policy area, but as a core strategic lever that directly shapes national territorial stability, public wellbeing and economic revival. Against a backdrop of escalating ecological challenges facing Haiti, Fils-Aimé positioned environmental action as a top national priority that demands coordinated, collective action from government, civil society, and international partners.

    The new strategy is built around four interconnected strategic priorities, the first of which reframes solid waste management from a routine public cleanliness issue to a central component of urban governance, public health and national environmental security. Under the banner of the Konbit Haiti Zero Waste program, the ministry is launching a nationwide mobilization effort to build a formal, functional public waste management system. Key components of the initiative include structured municipal collection routes, capacity building for the National Waste Management and Recycling Service (SNGRS), expanded engagement with local government authorities, and investment in formal recycling and resource recovery sectors. Fils-Aimé noted that the program’s long-term goal is to turn Haiti’s long-standing structural waste crisis into a source of new economic and social opportunity for local communities.

    The second strategic axis focuses on environmental rehabilitation and sustainable natural resource management, addressing widespread ecosystem degradation through an integrated “mountain-to-sea” approach. This framework combines community-led reforestation projects, comprehensive watershed management, coastal zone protection, and investments in territorial climate resilience, all aimed at restoring ecological balance, securing at-risk communities, and protecting the livelihoods of Haitian households that depend on natural resources. In line with this priority, the ministry will launch the Citizen Environmental Initiatives Support Program (PAIEC) in May 2026. The program will issue targeted calls for proposals aligned with national sector priorities, providing funding and support to at least 30 local environmental nonprofits and roughly 100 green entrepreneurs who have developed innovative, locally rooted sustainable solutions. The end goal of this initiative is to nurture a growing ecosystem of green entrepreneurship that creates formal jobs, generates local economic value, and encourages widespread citizen participation and ownership of climate and environmental action.

    Third, the ministry has prioritized strengthening environmental governance and institutional capacity, noting that no national environmental policy can deliver results without robust, functional state institutions. Three key institutional projects are slated to move forward rapidly: first, expanding the mandate and capacity of the Directorate of Environmental Inspection and Monitoring and the National Environmental Assessment Office, working in partnership with other relevant government agencies, to improve regulation of natural resource extraction including water, mining, and sand quarrying; second, elevating the National Solid Waste Management Service (SNGRS) as the primary operational arm of the ministry and a central pillar of national sustainable waste management; third, expanding the mandate and capacity of the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP), the ministry-supervised body responsible for the co-management of Haiti’s protected natural areas.

    The fourth and final strategic priority focuses on restructuring external cooperation and securing sustainable financing for national climate action. Fils-Aimé called on partners to work with the Haitian government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, to rapidly launch a multi-donor climate and environment fund. The new fund will address the long-standing challenge of fragmented donor interventions, strengthen national-level impact, enable coordinated resource mobilization, direct financing to high-impact projects in priority sectors, and improve the speed and effectiveness of on-the-ground interventions.

    Closing the opening session, Fils-Aimé emphasized that the new framework is more than a list of disconnected projects: it represents a cohesive national vision, a clear actionable roadmap, and an open invitation to collective action across all sectors. “Our responsibility is simple, yet demanding: to produce visible results, to tangibly improve the living environment, to strengthen the presence of the State, to create economic opportunities, and to build sustainable resilience,” Fils-Aimé said. “The environment is not just another sector. It is the condition of our stability and the foundation of our development.”

  • Haiti : Important meeting between Minister Paulemon and the Caribbean Development Bank

    Haiti : Important meeting between Minister Paulemon and the Caribbean Development Bank

    Against the backdrop of the 2026 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, a high-stakes strategic meeting unfolded between Haiti’s top planning official and leadership from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), marking a key step forward in the Caribbean nation’s push for coordinated international support amid ongoing stabilization efforts.

    On April 16, Sandra Paulemon, Haiti’s Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, sat down with a CDB delegation headed by bank President Daniel Best to outline the Haitian government’s core national priorities and map out pathways to deepen bilateral development cooperation. The gathering underscores Port-au-Prince’s formal commitment to streamlining external assistance delivery and building durable, mission-aligned partnerships that directly advance Haiti’s long-term sustainable development goals.

    During the discussions, Minister Paulemon praised the CDB for the impact and relevance of its existing work across Haiti. She outlined the Haitian government’s immediate on-the-ground priorities, noting that authorities are rolling out targeted frameworks and community-focused projects to cut widespread poverty, support the safe return of displaced households, and help vulnerable communities reestablish dignified living conditions. In laying out this work, Paulemon emphasized that meaningful progress depends on robust technical and financial backing from international partner institutions.

    Paulemon reaffirmed the three non-negotiable priorities laid out in Haiti’s National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections: restoring widespread security across the country, driving inclusive economic and social recovery, and successfully organizing national elections. She stressed that all international development interventions must be closely aligned with these national priorities to deliver meaningful, measurable change for Haitian people.

    For the CDB, the delegation presented a full update on its current portfolio in Haiti, which totals nearly $200 million in active projects, including roughly $50 million in newly approved funding commitments. President Best reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting Haiti’s development, and made clear the institution intends to expand its footprint through high-impact, community-centered projects that address the country’s most pressing needs.

    CDB leadership also expressed strong support for the Haitian government’s three priority agenda, noting the bank is ready to scale up assistance to advance these goals. The institution’s overarching aim is to maximize the effectiveness of its support to contribute directly to Haiti’s stabilization and long-term sustainable growth. Moving forward, Best added, the CDB plans to expand its work in building Haiti’s economic, social, and environmental resilience, while also boosting the country’s domestic productive capacities — with a particular focus on the critical agricultural and energy sectors.

    Minister Paulemon for her part pushed for a more robust, results-focused partnership between Haiti and the CDB, outlining key priorities including expanded access to low-interest concessional financing and grants, targeted budget support to shore up government operations, investment in institutional capacity building for Haitian public agencies, and the creation of faster, more flexible funding disbursement processes that cut red tape for on-the-ground project delivery.

    In a move to build local expertise, the CDB delegation also announced plans to hire dozens of young Haitian professionals across key priority sectors including agriculture, education, and energy, to strengthen national institutional capacity and embed local leadership in the bank’s development work across the country.

    By the end of the meeting, both sides reached a consensus to hold a follow-up gathering in May 2026. That upcoming session will include a detailed breakdown of upcoming projects, formal confirmation of priority intervention sectors, and a review of projected funding amounts to be secured for Haiti’s development agenda.