Carib Scope

标签： Haiti

海地

  • National Tourism Day : A passionate appeal from Minister Stéphanie Smith

    National Tourism Day : A passionate appeal from Minister Stéphanie Smith

    On July 3, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism gathered a broad cross-section of stakeholders at Port-au-Prince’s Oasis Hotel to celebrate National Tourism Day, centered on the unifying theme “Heritage, Investment, and Territorial Recovery.” The high-level event brought together top government officials, private sector leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, international development partners, and representatives from across Haiti’s fractured tourism industry to chart a path forward for an sector that holds enormous untapped potential for the Caribbean nation.

    Attendees included Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and six cabinet ministers spanning the tourism, diaspora, public works, trade, planning, and culture portfolios, reflecting the government’s framing of tourism as a whole-of-economy priority. The day’s discussions centered on positioning the sector as a core engine of inclusive economic growth, job creation, and post-crisis territorial recovery for Haiti.

    In his keynote address to the assembly, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé underscored tourism’s unique cross-cutting strategic value to Haiti’s economy. He stressed that meaningful revitalization of the sector depends on close, sustained collaboration between public agencies, local municipal governments, domestic private businesses, and global partners. He reaffirmed the national government’s pledge to build a policy and security environment that encourages renewed investment, noting that a thriving tourism sector would deliver widespread benefits across all segments of the Haitian economy.

    The Prime Minister also publicly recognized the remarkable resilience of Haiti’s private tourism sector, which has continued to allocate capital to new projects even amid ongoing economic and security challenges. Most recently, Haiti has seen progress on a private $20 million tourist complex development that signals growing confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. Beyond economic commitments, Fils-Aimé reiterated the government’s core priorities: restoring widespread security across the country, advancing the national electoral process, and strengthening democratic state institutions. He closed his remarks by extending an invitation to international partners, friends of Haiti, and Haitians living in the diaspora to join the sector’s revival by rediscovering the nation’s unique cultural, historical, and natural treasures.

    Tourism Minister Stéphanie Smith delivered a passionate, urgent appeal for global and local audiences to re-examine Haiti as a travel destination, highlighting the extraordinary diversity and richness of the country’s heritage that remains largely underpromoted. Smith outlined three clear strategic priorities guiding her ministry’s new policy agenda: elevating and preserving Haiti’s unique national heritage, rebuilding investor confidence to stimulate new capital inflows to the sector, and revitalizing regional tourism ecosystems across the country. The framework is rooted in an inclusive development model that centers local community participation and ensures regional communities capture shared benefits from tourism growth.

    Smith called on all stakeholders – domestic citizens, the Haitian diaspora, the private sector, and international partners – to align efforts to rebuild Haiti into a competitive, welcoming, and sustainable travel destination for future generations. Echoing Smith’s call, Minister of Diaspora Kathia Verdier emphasized the outsized strategic role that Haitians living abroad can play in promoting Haiti as a credible tourist destination, reaffirming her ministry’s commitment to supporting sustainable, inclusive tourism development projects.

    As part of the day’s celebrations, organizers presented public awards to three institutions that have made notable contributions to raising Haiti’s global profile in recent years: the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), the Haitian Tourism Association (ATH), and domestic carrier Sunrise Airways. By the close of the event, Smith reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to partnering with every stakeholder group to roll out an ambitious national tourism policy that advances the core goals of heritage preservation, investment promotion, sustainable territorial development, and the repositioning of Haiti as a one-of-a-kind global travel destination.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #38

    Leisure : Did you know ? #38

    Haiti’s popular independent news and media platform HaitiLibre has announced a major expansion of its popular educational quiz initiative, Quiz.HaitiLibre, bringing the total number of interactive general knowledge games available on the platform to 180 following a July 1, 2026 monthly content update. As part of the platform’s signature twice-weekly “Did You Know?” knowledge segment – the 38th installment of which was published on March 7, 2026 – the feature this week explores the little-discussed historical mechanics of transatlantic triangular trade, a system that shaped the colonial history of Hispaniola, the island that includes present-day Haiti.

    The educational entry explains that the triangular trade was a structured global commercial system that integrated the colony of Santo Domingo, the precursor to modern Haiti, directly into European imperial economic networks. This sprawling maritime trading operation operated in three distinct, brutal phases. The circuit began when trading ships departed Western European ports – most notably major French harbors – loaded with standardized manufactured goods, firearms, textiles, and distilled spirits.

    These cargoes were then traded on the western coast of Africa to local slave trading intermediaries in exchange for captured African men, women, and children. The enslaved people were then packed tightly into ships for the horrific transatlantic crossing known infamously as the Middle Passage, where vast numbers died from disease, starvation, abuse, or neglect before reaching the Americas.

    Upon arrival in the Caribbean, the surviving enslaved people were sold at auction to white colonial plantation owners. The final leg of the triangle closed when ships returned to Europe with holds full of high-value, labor-intensive tropical export crops including sugar, coffee, and indigo. This closed commercial cycle generated unprecedented wealth for European colonial powers, built entirely on the exploitation and premature death of millions of enslaved African people.

    Quiz.HaitiLibre positions itself as an accessible, inclusive educational resource for curious learners of all ages. All games on the platform are 100% free to access, require no account registration, and are offered in both French and English to serve Haiti’s diverse linguistic communities and international audiences. Every quiz is structured with three graduated difficulty levels – easy, intermediate, and hard – to accommodate both casual learners and seasoned history enthusiasts looking for a challenge. The platform adds 31 new games each month as part of its regular content update cycle, covering topics ranging from local Haitian history and culture to global current events and general knowledge.

    Readers and learners are invited to visit the official Quiz.HaitiLibre website to explore the full collection of games, test their knowledge, share the platform with friends and family, and submit feedback through a contact form available at the end of each quiz to help the team improve the offering over time.

  • Zapping Haiti of July 4th, 2026

    Zapping Haiti of July 4th, 2026

    As of July 3, 2026, Haiti is navigating overlapping political, security, and social developments, with key decisions from the national Council of Ministers and steady progress on counter-gang security operations.

    In the security domain, the Gangs Suppression Force (GSF) has established a sustained presence in the Tabarre neighborhood following offensive operations launched last week to dislodge gang control. GSF members are continuing regular patrols and clearing blocked transport routes to restore safe passage for local residents, with command emphasizing that recapturing gang-held territory is only the initial phase of the mission — securing the area long-term to prevent gang reoccupation remains the core ongoing objective.

    On the political front, the Council of Ministers adopted the long-awaited third version of a national electoral decree on July 2, 2026, wrapping up weeks of negotiations between the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the national government, and government-aligned political parties. The finalized decree has been forwarded to the National Press for official publication in the government’s official journal *Le Moniteur*. In addition to the electoral framework, the council approved a series of senior administrative and leadership changes: Gerald Rampliais stepped down from his role as Director General of Customs, and Walter Gabellus was appointed as his replacement. Hans L. Joseph, the former Director General of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), was removed from his post with no public explanation of the dismissal, and replaced by Goethie Varnelle Morency. Job Pierre was confirmed as Deputy Director General of the National Old-Age Insurance Office (ONA), and a reshuffle of multiple interim municipal councils was also approved, though full details of these local changes have not been released to the public.

    In diplomatic appointments, the Haitian government named two new ambassadors: Guy Lamothe will serve as Haiti’s top representative to Chile, while Antonio Rodrigue has been appointed ambassador to Canada. On July 2, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé personally attended a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of United States independence, held at the official residence of U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. Wooster. The prime minister praised the U.S. founding milestone as a defining embodiment of the values of liberty and national sovereignty, and reaffirmed the longstanding friendly bilateral ties between Haiti and the United States, extending the Haitian government’s official wishes for continued prosperity to the American people. Separately, Fils-Aimé issued formal congratulations, on behalf of the Haitian government and in a personal capacity, to Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, following her election as the next president of Peru. He commended the Peruvian people’s exercise of sovereign democratic will, and expressed hopes for Fujimori’s success in advancing national stability, inclusive development, shared prosperity, and stronger democratic institutions during her term.

    In judicial news, former Arnel Bélizaire, who previously represented the Delmas and Tabarre district as a member of parliament, was released from custody on July 2, 2026, by order of investigating judge Loubens Élysée. Bélizaire had been held for more than three months following his March 14 arrest, on charges including terrorism financing, conspiracy against state internal security, and criminal association. The judge ordered his release after concluding a formal hearing into the case.

    In the education sector, national end-of-cycle exams for 9th-grade students, learners at Family Education Centers (CEF), and students at Teacher Training Colleges (ENIJE) concluded successfully on July 2, 2026. Haiti’s Ministry of Education announced preliminary outcomes during a press briefing, expressing overall satisfaction with the orderly conduct of exams across all test centers. Turnout for the exams was high, with between 94% and 97% of all registered candidates attending their scheduled assessments.

  • Grand’Anse (Haiti), Inauguration of the Women’s Center

    Grand’Anse (Haiti), Inauguration of the Women’s Center

    On July 1, 2026, Haitian officials and international stakeholders gathered in the coastal Grand’Anse department to mark a landmark step forward for women’s rights in the country: the official inauguration of a purpose-built Women’s Center focused on supporting survivors of gender-based violence and advancing women’s economic and social independence.

    Led by Pedrica Saint Jean, Haiti’s Minister for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights (MCFDF), the inauguration ceremony opened with a blessing service officiated by Reverend Father Edner Mars, followed by a traditional ribbon-cutting that formalized the opening of the new facility. The event drew a broad cross-section of governmental, civil society, and international partners, including Jérémie Mayor Onel Jacinthe, Jérémie First Instance Court Government Commissioner Jean Marie Alexandre Geatjens, UN Women Haiti Deputy Representative Sophie Havyarimana, Jérémie Vice-Delegate Wilbert Chéry, and Kerling Gaspard Saint Juste, the MCFDF’s departmental director for Grand’Anse.

    In his remarks at the ceremony, Mayor Onel Jacinthe reinforced the municipal government’s unwavering commitment to backing all initiatives that lift up women and girls who have survived violence. He called for broad grassroots civic participation, urging local residents to collaborate closely with the ministry and supporting institutions to strengthen the national fight against gender-based violence, which he described as a persistent societal scourge.

    Commissioner Jean Marie Alexandre Gaetjens brought sharp attention to a growing crisis facing the region: he reported a concerning upward trend in gender-based violence cases logged by the Jérémie Public Prosecutor’s Office. He stressed that sexual violence must not be dismissed as isolated, private incidents, but treated as the serious criminal offense it is, requiring strict, uncompromising judicial action. “There is no room for impunity. Every complaint brought before the courts will be examined with all the rigor required by law,” Gaetjens said, adding that no social, family, or political pressure would be allowed to interfere with the equal application of the law. He urged survivors, their families, and all community members to break long-standing cultures of silence by reporting all acts of violence to authorities.

    Sophie Havyarimana, deputy representative for UN Women in Haiti, welcomed the Haitian government’s investment in the Grand’Anse center, noting it is the first facility of its kind in the department. She called the inauguration a major milestone in building out robust national protection and support systems for violence survivors. Havyarimana emphasized that violence against women and girls remains an unacceptable violation of fundamental human rights, one that can only be defeated through coordinated collective action from government, community groups, and international partners. “We have a duty to break the silence. It is unacceptable to tolerate violence against women and girls. Together, we must put an end to this phenomenon so that every woman and girl can live in a safe, dignified environment free from all forms of violence,” she said.

    Jérémie Vice-Delegate Wilbert Chéry framed the fight against gender-based violence as a core priority for upholding social cohesion and driving Haiti’s long-term sustainable development. No country can achieve meaningful progress when half its population is blocked from accessing their fundamental rights, he noted, and reaffirmed the need for ongoing, coordinated action from public authorities and all sectors of Haitian society to guarantee women and girls effective protection, full exercise of their rights, and equal opportunities to contribute to national development.

    In her keynote address, Minister Pedrica Saint Jean explained that the new Grand’Anse Women’s Center is part of a broader national strategy to build a Haitian state that is proactive, protective, and responsive to women’s rights. “The establishment of the Women’s Center in Grand’Anse is part of a clear national vision: that of a state that protects, listens, and acts. It is based on fundamental principles: equality, social justice, security, solidarity, and the empowerment of women,” Saint Jean said. She outlined the dual symbolic and practical value of the new facility, describing it as “a space of dignity, listening, and rebuilding” where every survivor of violence will receive respectful, non-judgmental support at every stage of their recovery. The center will deliver integrated, multidisciplinary services spanning medical care, mental health support, social assistance, and legal aid, to remove barriers to justice for survivors. Beyond direct support, it will also serve as a hub for prevention education and community-wide cultural change to reduce rates of gender-based violence.

    Closing the ceremony, Saint Jean emphasized that the new center is not a final achievement, but the start of a renewed commitment from the Haitian state to the women of Haiti. “The Women’s Center of Grand’Anse is not an end. It is the beginning of a new pact between the State and the women of Haiti: a pact of protection, justice, and dignity,” she said.

  • Towards the institutionalization of the social protection budget in Haiti

    Towards the institutionalization of the social protection budget in Haiti

    On June 30, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor kicked off a landmark hybrid seminar focused on embedding the National Policy for Social Protection and Promotion (PNPPS) into formal national budget structures, hosted at Port-au-Prince’s Karibe Hotel. The gathering brought together a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including senior Haitian government officials, members of the national Sectoral Roundtable, and technical experts from leading regional and global development bodies: the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization.

    In his opening address to attendees, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Marc-Elie Nelson framed the budget institutionalization effort as a critical step to supercharge Haiti’s long-term battle against deep-rooted poverty, systemic inequality, and widespread community vulnerability. Nelson highlighted two existing government initiatives that have already laid critical groundwork for national scale-up: the Klere Chimen program and the Multisectoral Emergency Program (PUM), both designed to support social reintegration and stabilize vulnerable populations. These programs, he noted, serve as proven pilot models for a unified national social protection framework, which already relies on the Ministry’s SIMAST digital information system as the country’s official social registry.

    Nelson stressed that embedding PNPPS within the government’s 2026–2029 Three-Year Action Plan and aligning the policy with national program budgeting is non-negotiable to secure consistent, long-term funding, streamline cross-agency interventions, and strengthen sector governance. He closed his opening remarks by calling for coordinated action from all public institutions and international technical and financial partners to deliver more equitable, accessible, and sustainable social protection services to all Haitian people.

    A core focus of the seminar was the launch of a new 57-page consultancy report, *Analysis and Recommendations for the Budgetary Institutionalization of the National Policy for Social Protection and Promotion in Haiti*, authored by ECLAC external consultant and public finance expert Lordis Bernard. The report outlines the most pressing barriers to sustainable social protection financing in Haiti, analyzes the country’s current socio-economic landscape, existing PNPPS institutional architecture, and the national budget system. It proposes a clear pathway to integrate the social protection policy into the state’s core budget priorities, centered on a program-based budgeting approach, and lays out strategic recommendations to strengthen PNPPS’s long-term viability, governance, and sustainability.

    Lucny Cadet, coordinator of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s Studies and Programming Unit (UEP), praised the report’s rigor and framed the current moment as a turning point for Haitian social protection. “The question is no longer whether we should finance social protection,” Cadet explained, “it is how to better plan, target, coordinate, and evaluate these investments to maximize their economic and social impact.” He emphasized that the end goal is a national social protection system that is more integrated, efficient, responsive, and reliably funded, adding: “Social protection should not be seen as an unproductive expense, but as a strategic investment in human capital, social stability, household resilience, and more inclusive growth.”

    Erwan Rumen, acting WFP country director for Haiti, echoed this framing, affirming that social protection is an indispensable foundation for long-term national development in the country.

    Closing the seminar, Marie Herolle Michel, director general of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment as the lead sectoral agency to continue deepening collaboration with all national and international stakeholders. The goal, she said, is to build a Haiti with a coherent, integrated, resilient, and adequately funded social protection system, supported by sustainable mechanisms that deliver tangible results for the needs of the Haitian people. Full versions of the report (in French) and Minister Nelson’s opening address are available for public download via HaitiLibre’s document portal.

  • FLASH : 670,500 Haitians expelled from the Dominican Republic in 20 months

    FLASH : 670,500 Haitians expelled from the Dominican Republic in 20 months

    In an official update released on July 1, 2026, the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM) has published stark new data showing the scale of the country’s intensified immigration enforcement actions targeting irregular Haitian residents. According to the agency’s figures, 34,226 Haitian nationals who were living without legal authorization in the Dominican Republic were sent back to their home country during the month of June 2026 alone.

    When broken down across the first six months of 2026, the total number of repatriated Haitians in irregular status climbs to 196,321. All of these repatriation operations have been conducted in close coordination with the Dominican armed forces and multiple national security agencies, as a core component of the national government’s aggressively tightened immigration policy that launched in recent years.

    The most striking figure from the DGM’s announcement covers a longer 20-month timeframe: starting from October 1, 2024, when Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester took office as the head of the migration agency, the cumulative total of deported Haitian migrants has now reached 670,500. That number reflects a consistent pace of large-scale enforcement actions across nearly two years.

    In a granular snapshot of daily enforcement activity, the DGM also shared details from one day at the end of June: on June 30, authorities apprehended 980 Haitian migrants who were found to be in violation of the country’s immigration rules, and processed the deportation of 1,041 additional irregular migrants back to Haiti the very same day. The update comes amid longstanding cross-border migration tensions between the two neighboring countries, which share the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #37

    Leisure : Did you know ? #37

    HaitiLibre, Haiti’s leading independent media platform, has featured the career of trailblazing fashion designer A. Victor Glemaud in the 37th installment of its popular twice-weekly general knowledge quiz segment “Did You Know?”, shedding light on the Haitian creative who has reshaped modern American fashion through his innovative approach to knitwear.

    Born and raised in Haiti, Glemaud moved to New York City to pursue advanced design education at a prestigious institution before launching his self-titled eponymous fashion brand. At the core of his brand is a distinct focus on vibrant, technically masterful knitwear crafted for size diversity – a radical departure from the narrow beauty standards that long dominated high fashion. By centering designs that celebrate every body type, Glemaud quickly caught the eye of leading global fashion publications and drew A-list celebrity clientele, most notably former United States First Lady Michelle Obama, who has repeatedly worn his pieces in public appearances.

    While Glemaud’s design aesthetic is unapologetically modern and tailored for urban life, his work never loses connection to his Haitian roots. He consistently draws inspiration from the vivid, sun-drenched landscapes of his Haitian childhood, infusing his bold color palettes with the warmth and energy that defines Haitian culture. Today, his extraordinary rise from a Haitian creative in the diaspora to a leading voice in international fashion has made him a powerful role model for emerging Haitian designers around the world, and a key advocate for greater diversity and representation in the global fashion industry.

    Beyond sharing this profile of Glemaud, HaitiLibre used the “Did You Know?” segment to announce updates to its Quiz.HaitiLibre platform, which hosts the free general knowledge content. As part of the platform’s monthly content refresh launched on June 1, 2026, 31 new quiz games were added, bringing the platform’s total collection of interactive quizzes to 180. New games are added every month to expand the platform’s range of topics, which cover everything from local Haitian history and culture to global current events and specialized expert content.

    All Quiz.HaitiLibre games are free to access, require no user registration, and are built to serve audiences of all ages and knowledge levels. Each quiz comes with three adjustable difficulty tiers – easy, intermediate, and hard – and is fully available in both French and English to serve Haiti’s bilingual population and the global Haitian diaspora. Users can explore the full collection of quizzes, share the platform with friends and family, and submit feedback via a form available at the end of every game on the official Quiz.HaitiLibre website.

  • News : Zapping…

    News : Zapping…

    As the first week of July 2026 unfolds, a series of disparate but consequential events across Haiti highlight the Caribbean nation’s overlapping struggles and quiet progress on multiple fronts. This roundup of key developments from late June and early July 2026 brings together updates on humanitarian crisis, food security initiatives, energy infrastructure expansion, global health support, diplomatic outreach, and new trade opportunities.

    The most alarming development comes from Jacmel Civil Prison, where five inmates lost their lives to severe starvation and malnutrition between June 24 and June 30, 2026. The deaths expose the deep systemic crisis and deteriorating conditions in Haiti’s correctional facilities, long a source of international concern over overcrowding, inadequate access to food, and limited basic services.

    Amid ongoing food insecurity across large swathes of the country, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched an emergency food production initiative to support vulnerable Haitian communities. Funded by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the program will distribute 19,000 live rabbits and 70,000 chickens to small-scale producers across three of Haiti’s most populous departments: Artibonite, West, and Central. The distribution, scheduled to roll out over the coming months, is designed to boost local food production, expand household access to nutrient-dense protein, and support livelihoods for communities struggling with chronic food instability.

    On the energy development front, Haiti is moving forward with plans to unlock its abundant renewable solar potential, with a key mini-grid project reaching critical construction milestones. During a recent inspection of the Genipailler mini-grid site in Milot, Haiti’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANARSE) confirmed two major breakthroughs: all necessary construction materials and equipment for the 436-kilowatt solar power plant, paired with a 900-kilowatt-hour energy storage system, have arrived on site, and construction of the project’s distribution network has officially commenced. “Haiti’s solar potential is considerable, and we are continuing our efforts to fully harness it for the country’s development. Haiti’s energy future is resolutely solar,” stated Evenson Calixte, Director General of ANARSE. The project represents a core step forward in Haiti’s long-term plan to expand access to reliable electricity, a critical need for economic growth and public service delivery across the country.

    In a show of global solidarity, Bolivia has extended critical public health support to Haiti through a large donation of life-saving childhood vaccines. The Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports has contributed 128,032 doses of pentavalent vaccine, which protects children under five years old against five life-threatening diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, and invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections that cause conditions like meningitis and pneumonia. The donation was coordinated in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the vaccine shipment is expected to arrive in Haiti within the coming days, according to Bolivian Health Minister Marcela Flores Zambrana. Haitian health authorities will administer the vaccine following the standard five-dose schedule, with doses given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, and 4 years of age. The donation comes as Haiti’s public health system continues to grapple with limited resources and widespread access gaps for routine childhood immunization.

    On the diplomatic front, Haiti’s Prime Minister Fils Aimé offered official greetings to Canada to mark the 159th anniversary of Canadian independence, celebrated July 1. “On behalf of the Government and people of Haiti, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Canada on the 159th anniversary of Canada’s independence. May our bonds of friendship and cooperation continue to grow stronger. Happy Canada Day!” Aimé said in a public statement.

    Looking to expand agricultural export opportunities, Haitian trade officials held exploratory talks in Beijing at the end of June 2026 to pave the way for mango exports to the Chinese market. On June 30, John Peter César, Haiti’s Acting Representative in China, met with Qin Jinsong, North China Regional Director for Sales Channels at Joy Wing Mau – one of China’s largest fruit distribution and import-export groups – at the office of Haiti’s Trade Development Agency in Beijing. The discussion centered on key requirements for market access, including Chinese quality standards for Haitian mangoes, cold chain shipping logistics, consistent supply expectations, and coordination across Haiti’s production and export supply chains. Following the constructive talks, both sides agreed to continue negotiations with the goal of establishing a long-term trade partnership that would open a major new export market for Haiti’s mango industry, a key agricultural sector for the country’s economy.

    Collectively, these developments reflect the complex reality of Haiti in mid-2026: a nation grappling with urgent humanitarian crises, but also advancing on long-term development goals and forging new global partnerships to support growth.

  • The ILO Caribbean Office begins its first high-level mission to Haiti

    The ILO Caribbean Office begins its first high-level mission to Haiti

    Almost six weeks after formalizing a landmark cooperation framework with Haitian government, labor and industry stakeholders, the International Labour Organization’s Caribbean office has launched its inaugural high-level mission to Haiti, marking a new phase of on-the-ground engagement to advance decent work and economic recovery in the crisis-battered nation.

    The mission, which kicked off June 30 and runs through July 4, 2026, comes after responsibility for Haiti programming was transferred to the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Caribbean and ILO Caribbean Office, both headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Leading the delegation is Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Caribbean office, alongside Senior Programming Officer Ingerlyn Caines-Francis.

    This in-person visit caps months of preliminary consultations and collaborative planning with Haiti’s tripartite partners – the national government, employer associations, and trade union bodies – that culminated in the official signing of the Haiti Country Programme on May 14, 2026, in Port of Spain. The agreement was signed by Haitian Social Affairs and Labor Minister Marc-Elie Nelson on behalf of the government; Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) President Maulik Radia for the country’s employer sector; and Yvel Admettre, Secretary General of the Confederation of Workers in the Public and Private Sectors, and Louis Fignole St Cyr, Secretary General of the Autonomous Central of Haitian Workers, for Haitian workers. Musabayana signed on behalf of the ILO.

    The two-year program lays out a structured framework for ILO technical support across four core priority areas: expanding social dialogue and protecting labor rights, strengthening national labor institutions and governance, boosting employment opportunities and livelihoods to support broad economic recovery, and expanding social protection while improving workplace safety across Haiti.

    In remarks at the opening of the mission, Musabayana emphasized that the visit signals a deliberate shift from planning to tangible action. “Haiti’s tripartite partners have worked with commitment and clarity to define shared priorities for decent work. Today’s discussions confirmed the importance of staying close to workers, employers and institutions on the ground as we support implementation of the country programme,” he said. “The ILO Caribbean Office is committed to working with Haiti’s constituents through practical technical assistance, social dialogue and partnership.”

    Beyond rolling out program activities, Musabayana noted that the on-the-ground mission serves a critical foundational purpose: deepening institutional relationships and building mutual trust between the ILO and its Haitian stakeholders. “It is important for us to be here, so that the ILO Caribbean Office can deepen its understanding of the realities facing constituents and give effect to our commitment to work with our Haitian partners in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility,” he added.

    In the first two days of the mission, the delegation held a series of closed-door meetings with government officials, industry leaders, and trade union representatives in northern Haiti. These sessions gave the ILO team a chance to listen directly to local stakeholders, align on actionable priorities for the decent work program, and map out concrete steps to support collaborative social dialogue in sectors that are central to Haitian employment, livelihoods, and domestic economic activity.

    The mission also includes targeted site visits to active industrial and employment sites across the country, allowing the delegation to observe on-the-ground conditions firsthand, assess how social dialogue practices are functioning in local workplaces, and identify opportunities to strengthen industrial relations, build trust between labor and management, and foster more stable, productive cooperation between workers, employers, and state institutions.

    Citing ongoing security concerns across Haiti, ILO officials have declined to disclose the specific locations of mission activities to protect the safety of delegation members and local partners.

  • Micro Industrial Parks : Call for Expressions of Interest

    Micro Industrial Parks : Call for Expressions of Interest

    Haiti’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) has opened a national call for expressions of interest for private developers and organizations to submit proposals for new Micro Industrial Park (MIP) projects, as a core component of the country’s ongoing Integrated Business Development Program (PIDE).

    The initiative is designed to catalyze private-sector led industrial growth across Haiti, with the Haitian government limiting its role to enabling economic activity and protecting the interests of all project stakeholders — all selected MIPs will operate under full private management. Eligible participants include private institutions, for-profit organizations and independent project promoters that meet the ministry’s outlined eligibility criteria, with a submission deadline set for July 14, 2026. All application materials, including a full viable project business plan and official company legal documentation, must be submitted via email to servicemicroparc@mci.gouv.ht.

    The MCI is specifically seeking projects focused on four key priority sectors that align with the country’s long-term economic development goals: agribusiness; wood and textile manufacturing; industrial services, with a focus on general and precision mechanics; and applied biotechnological research.

    To support successful applicants in bringing their projects to fruition, the government is offering a comprehensive package of technical and financial incentives tailored to address common barriers to industrial development in emerging markets. Key benefits include targeted technical assistance for pre-feasibility and full feasibility studies, guidance and support in securing third-party project financing, direct capital funding for industrial equipment, building construction and core infrastructure, specialized training programs for local technicians and industry-specific staff, support navigating the patent and operating license application process, access to nearby basic public and private services, national and international marketing and promotion support, and guidance to help operations meet international production and quality standards.

    Notably, MIPs designated as Multi-Production Investment zones will be classified as special customs territories, meaning all companies operating within these parks will qualify for additional tax and business incentives outlined in Haiti’s national Investment Code.

    To be considered for selection, applicants must meet a series of baseline eligibility requirements. Promoters must operate as a private institution or for-profit organization with a minimum of three years of active industry experience, propose projects that leverage the unique economic and geographic potential of their proposed location, deliver high-value-added employment opportunities for local workers, and be led by teams with proven expertise and experience in their target sector. Additional evaluation criteria include confirmed land availability and accessible, high-quality project locations, demonstrated potential to attract complementary businesses to the area, a verifiable personal financial contribution from the project promoter, clear identification of target markets and secured supply chains, confirmed project profitability for producers, measurable positive environmental and social impact, meaningful integration with local producer networks, and meaningful inclusion of women in project leadership and operations.

    Selected projects will receive targeted financial support to cover the cost of acquiring and assembling required industrial materials and equipment. The MCI has confirmed that only shortlisted, selected proposals will receive support through the PIDE program, following a full review of all submitted applications.