News
New government confirmed in Haiti
Haiti's parliament has passed a vote of confidence in the new government's
legislative programmed a day after it gained the backing of senators in the
disaster-hit nation.
The vote, which approves Garry Conille's appointment as prime minister, was
reached after more than 14 hours of debate on Saturday, with 81 members in favor,
none against, and seven abstentions.
Conille, a 45-year-old physician, was the third prime ministerial candidate put
forward by Michel Martelly, the Haitian president, for the post in a bid to end a
three-month impasse over the makeup of his fledgling government.
"We wish you good luck but this is not a blank check," speaker of the House Saurel
Jacinthe told Conille, a former advisor to Bill Clinton, the former US president.
Conille was confirmed by Haiti's Senate on October 4.
"Thank you very much for the trust you have placed in me," said Conille, whose programmed
is primarily focused on tackling a housing crisis in the wake of last year's catastrophic
earthquake.
Foreign Investment
Meanwhile, Martelly sought to promote his country as a destination for foreign
investment more than for humanitarian aid.
"We do not want you to give us money; we want investments ... we want effective
external support for sustainable development," Martelly said to his Dominican
counterpart, Leonel Fernandez at a forum promoting co-operation between Europe
and Latin America.
Martelly said his government was working to "strengthen peace" in the wake of
a devastating January 2010 earthquake that was followed by a cholera outbreak
and political unrest.
Haiti, he added, is "ready for investment."
Martelly, who took office on May 14, also said his government would work to promote
cultural and tourist attractions in his country, including its beaches, natural
resources, history and voodoo religion.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola