Executive Videos

Haiti: Industry Ministry Meeting to Redress Victims of Tabarre Market Fire

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - "Every day that passes is a day to long," said Minister Wilson Laleau of Trade and Industry as he met with different government officials on the subject of repairing victims of the public market fire in Tabarre back on February 24. In the meeting the minister presented the results of a census of those damaged and took the opportunity to introduce two new agencies that would help in making merchants whole.

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August 4, 2012: The recapitalization of the victims of the Tabarre market fire has been the subject of a meeting organized by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Wilson Laleau with representatives of several state entities to at the Ministry Friday, August 3, 2012 in the afternoon.

The meeting, attended by the Minister for Women's Affairs and Women's Rights, Ms Yanick Mézil, the former mayor of the municipality of Tabarre, Jean Frantz Theodotus, the representative of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, M. Noel Jonathas and several officers of the ministry, was an opportunity for Mr. Laleau inform them of the results of the census operation of merchants of Tabarre, that was necessary in the preliminary phase before designing measures and appropriate support mechanisms.

The Minister took the opportunity to announce the involvement of two representatives of associations of merchants in the steering committee to ensure more transparency in advancing the issue.

"Every day that passes is a day too long" advised the holder of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He set a protocol accompanying merchants and identify institutions that will be represented in this file to provide specific responses to all victims of this fire.

The Minister is determined to find Laleau with other state actors involved possible solutions to help victims of this unfortunate accident. The final report will be ready next week to be presented to government authorities.

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Slow Repair

Five months ago, on Thursday March 8th, President Michel Martelly and Minister for Women and Women's Rights Yanick Mezile had announced the approval of $5 million [US] from the BRH to restore the market and victims of the fire in Tabarre.

On that day, Minister Mezile said the grant program would also be supported with 44 million HTG ($1 million [US]) from the city council of Tabarre and support would also come from international agencies such as United Nations Women and Fonkoze.

"Long live Martelly, Martelly-5 years if they don't want 10 years," said one of the scores of women who were present for the announcement by government officials.

A political vacuum had arisen with the resignation of former Prime Minister Garry Conille in late March which can explain some of why no action was taken in months to help the victimes.