October 9, 2014
Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe visited Washington, D.C. this week to speak about the Administration’s fight against cholera, and to push for assistance in improving Haiti’s water and sanitation systems. The cholera outbreak has spread throughout Haiti and exposed the weaknesses of the current system. With a $310 million dollar, three-year plan, Haiti hopes to completely eradicate cholera and prevent other water-borne diseases. “Water is life,” said Prime Minister Lamothe. “We have started, but we need more to distribute potable water and to protect our population.”
At the World Bank’s Haiti Conference on Water and Sanitation, Prime Minister Lamothe asked for the sustained support of Haiti’s partners. He spoke on behalf of the Haitian people and her cholera victims. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim renewed the Bank’s support for Haiti’s efforts to eradicate cholera and pledged $50 million dollars to that end. Prime Minister Lamothe also received the support of United Nations’ Secretary General M. Ban Ki-Moon, who recently visited Haiti.
Prime Minister Lamothe’s visit to the World Bank also included an appearance at the International Monetary Fund G24 Ministers meeting. He was given the floor and initiated a conversation about facilitating Haiti’s gradual access to the capital markets so that it can efficiently meet its development needs.
During his trip to Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Lamothe also met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. The two officials briefly addressed the press prior to retreating for a closed-door meeting to discuss a number of issues, including Haiti’s goal for energy self-sufficiency and the Martelly/Lamothe administration’s commitment to organize elections in Haiti.
At a luncheon hosted by the Embassy of Haiti for Permanent Representatives of the Organizations of American States, Prime Minister Lamothe used the opportunity to discuss trade and commerce, security and a number of regional issues. The members also discussed the global spread of the Ebola virus and the need for the region to find preventive measures against its expansion.
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