Port-au-Prince, 15 May 2012

The Special Representative of Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui, congratulates the Chamber of Deputies for its vote of confidence on the Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe’s general policy statement, which follows that of the Senate, held last Tuesday, thus completing the parliamentary procedure allowing the installation of the Prime Minister and the Government.

Mr. Fernandez also wishes to acknowledge the efforts and the spirit of dialogue shown by the Executive and the Legislative throughout the procedure, and the willingness of the Prime Minister to adopt an approach of unity and inclusion in his approaches.

In the same vein, the Special Representative of Secretary-General joins Haitians in wishing that the new government could rapidly advance its master plan and benchmarks in support of the country’s development and progress. This plan meets the urgent needs and legitimate expectations of the population in the five priority areas highlighted in the Prime Minister’s general policy statement, namely, Economics and Employment, Education, Energy, Rule of Law, and Environment. MINUSTAH welcomes the commitment made in the general policy statement to hold legislative and local elections before the end of the year.

Other challenges await the new Government, including the establishment of a stable and secure climate favoring economic development, the strengthening of state institutions, including the Haitian National Police, the negotiation of a legislative agenda with Parliament to allow the adoption of necessary reforms, the effective establishment of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power that must ensure the independence of the judiciary, and the organization of free and democratic elections. The Government of Haiti can count on MINUSTAH’s support to meet these challenges.

More than ever, Haiti now needs an atmosphere of peace and serenity to advance in the path of reconstruction and economic and social development.

Press contacts:

Spokesperson: Sylvie van den Wildenberg - +509 3702 9042 ; vandenwildenberg@un.org
Deputy Spokesperson: Vincenzo Pugliese - +509 3702 6710 ; pugliesev@un.org
Go to the Mission’s website http://www.minustah.org