Rene Garcia Preval has given clear explanations on his position about the Haitian Army issue. After a successful tour of South America, the elected head of state says Haiti does not need an army that will cost a lot of money (because this is the reality of all armed forces on the planet).
Preval, who met several personalities, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South African President Thabo Mbeki, explained that the country needs a force that can control its borders and its seas but not an army of seventy or eighty thousand soldiers.
“We are not waging war with any other countries. So, we will not restore the army.” These are statements by the president-elect, who explained that he will invest the money that could be used for the army in development projects.
Preval, who drew up a positive assessment of his visit to three countries on the South American continent, announced that jobs will be created in the first year of his government. The following is a report by Fedner Confident.
(Fedner Confident) After spending five days in South America?Brazil, Chile, and Argentina? President-elect Preval returned to Haiti on Tuesday, March 14. Agronomist Preval, who made an assessment of his trip during a news conference at Toussaint Louverture Airport, said that he made a lot of progress in the meetings he had with various government and private business sector representatives.
The new president-elect said he cannot remain without contacts with foreigners especially in a period of globalization. This series of meetings represents the basis for development. You must export, import, look for new markets, create jobs and search for investors. President Preval, who is pleased with the reception he received and the promises made to Haiti, according to him, said he will continue to travel to see how they can find a formula to develop Haiti.
(Preval) …in Chile, in Argentina, and Brazil, with governments as well as with private sectors, these are always canvassing visits. We will continue as we did in the Dominican Republic and as we will do in the United States next week in order to see how we can find the resources to develop the country.
(Confident) President-elect Preval, who went to take part in the inauguration of President Michelle Bachelet in Chile, met US Secretary of State Rice the same day. The discussions turned on the redefinition of both the role and mandate of MINUSTAH (U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti).
President Preval says MINUSTAH tanks should be replaced by tractors for the construction of more roads, for the creation of more jobs, for the establishment of security, and so on.
(Preval) There is no democracy without an improvement in people’s living conditions. I think that in the redefinition of MINUSTAH’s role, this is what I explained to her… (pauses) I think we should have fewer tanks and more tractors, more construction machines on the one hand. On the other hand, there should be more jobs. Therefore, I insist strongly on the programme called Hope that gives us advantages in the import of textiles which, according to the latest meeting I had with the Association of Haitian Industries, ADIH, could create at least eighty thousand jobs in one year because the structures are already there, the buildings are already there, the knowledge is already there, and the managers are already there. So, conditions are met so that jobs can be created quickly in the country.
(Confident) President Preval has reiterated the statement he made on Friday, March 10 in Brazil where he said that he would submit a bill to parliament for the complete abolition of the Haitian Army. According to him, Haiti does not need an army because Haiti is not going to be at war.
This statement has already given rise to much debate in Haitian society. President Preval says there is much confusion about this issue and points out that the world’s problems are no longer solved through the force of weapons but instead through negotiations, adding that many countries that had armies no longer see their roles.
(Preval) It must be clear. We are not going to be at war with anybody. We are in an historic moment where the problems between nations are not solved through wars but instead through discussions. Many countries that have armies almost do not know what to do with their armies at this time. So, you can have an organization that is military in nature. I am explaining again, a body that is military in nature for the protection of borders, for the surveillance of public buildings, or other relief tasks in case of disasters but whose name is not an army. Instead of having an army of 72,000 (number as heard) or 80,000 people with planes and so on, which is, by the way quite unrealistic, I prefer to invest this money in roads, education, and health. This is my position.
(Confident) About one month after the CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) proclaimed him president, Preval has already met with various officials in the world with the purpose of helping Haiti restart the economy. President Preval announced that he would meet with the U.S. president on March 27. His visits to South America and the Dominican Republic as well as the visits he has begun to make to public institutions and others he will make show that President Preval wants to create more jobs, especially from private investments.
Rene Garcia Preval has given clear explanations on his position about the Haitian Army issue. After a successful tour of South America, the elected head of state says Haiti does not need an army that will cost a lot of money (because this is the reality of all armed forces on the planet).
Preval, who met several personalities, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South African President Thabo Mbeki, explained that the country needs a force that can control its borders and its seas but not an army of seventy or eighty thousand soldiers.
“We are not waging war with any other countries. So, we will not restore the army.” These are statements by the president-elect, who explained that he will invest the money that could be used for the army in development projects.
Preval, who drew up a positive assessment of his visit to three countries on the South American continent, announced that jobs will be created in the first year of his government. The following is a report by Fedner Confident.
(Fedner Confident) After spending five days in South America?Brazil, Chile, and Argentina? President-elect Preval returned to Haiti on Tuesday, March 14. Agronomist Preval, who made an assessment of his trip during a news conference at Toussaint Louverture Airport, said that he made a lot of progress in the meetings he had with various government and private business sector representatives.
The new president-elect said he cannot remain without contacts with foreigners especially in a period of globalization. This series of meetings represents the basis for development. You must export, import, look for new markets, create jobs and search for investors. President Preval, who is pleased with the reception he received and the promises made to Haiti, according to him, said he will continue to travel to see how they can find a formula to develop Haiti.
(Preval) …in Chile, in Argentina, and Brazil, with governments as well as with private sectors, these are always canvassing visits. We will continue as we did in the Dominican Republic and as we will do in the United States next week in order to see how we can find the resources to develop the country.
(Confident) President-elect Preval, who went to take part in the inauguration of President Michelle Bachelet in Chile, met US Secretary of State Rice the same day. The discussions turned on the redefinition of both the role and mandate of MINUSTAH (U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti).
President Preval says MINUSTAH tanks should be replaced by tractors for the construction of more roads, for the creation of more jobs, for the establishment of security, and so on.
(Preval) There is no democracy without an improvement in people’s living conditions. I think that in the redefinition of MINUSTAH’s role, this is what I explained to her… (pauses) I think we should have fewer tanks and more tractors, more construction machines on the one hand. On the other hand, there should be more jobs. Therefore, I insist strongly on the programme called Hope that gives us advantages in the import of textiles which, according to the latest meeting I had with the Association of Haitian Industries, ADIH, could create at least eighty thousand jobs in one year because the structures are already there, the buildings are already there, the knowledge is already there, and the managers are already there. So, conditions are met so that jobs can be created quickly in the country.
(Confident) President Preval has reiterated the statement he made on Friday, March 10 in Brazil where he said that he would submit a bill to parliament for the complete abolition of the Haitian Army. According to him, Haiti does not need an army because Haiti is not going to be at war.
This statement has already given rise to much debate in Haitian society. President Preval says there is much confusion about this issue and points out that the world’s problems are no longer solved through the force of weapons but instead through negotiations, adding that many countries that had armies no longer see their roles.
(Preval) It must be clear. We are not going to be at war with anybody. We are in an historic moment where the problems between nations are not solved through wars but instead through discussions. Many countries that have armies almost do not know what to do with their armies at this time. So, you can have an organization that is military in nature. I am explaining again, a body that is military in nature for the protection of borders, for the surveillance of public buildings, or other relief tasks in case of disasters but whose name is not an army. Instead of having an army of 72,000 (number as heard) or 80,000 people with planes and so on, which is, by the way quite unrealistic, I prefer to invest this money in roads, education, and health. This is my position.
(Confident) About one month after the CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) proclaimed him president, Preval has already met with various officials in the world with the purpose of helping Haiti restart the economy. President Preval announced that he would meet with the U.S. president on March 27. His visits to South America and the Dominican Republic as well as the visits he has begun to make to public institutions and others he will make show that President Preval wants to create more jobs, especially from private investments.