The National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP) and the United Nations Programme for Development (UNDP), officially launched a comprehensive training program in earthquake-resistant construction in the North of Haiti.

This training should enable the Great North region to acquire skilled construction workers. Addressing the construction professionals, the training aims to train 25 trainers and 200 masons. The first twenty-five professional trained will have as mission to replicate the training to selected masons in the departments of North, Northeast and Northwest under the supervision of the project.

Attending the launching ceremony, Ms. Marina Gourgue, Secretary of State for Vocational Training, said that "The strengthening of construction professionals in Haiti is a cornerstone in the fight engaged to build the country differently and more safely. By training masons and other professionals, we committed a significant preventive work in relation to natural hazards."

According to Jean Renaud, the Mayor of the city of Cap Haitien, the training program will create an army of workers, who will have for mission to make the great north in general and the Cap in particular, a less vulnerable area. "Train resources of the construction chain is the best way to make the great north a safer area for all, if the earth was shaking."

For his part, Kamina Ntenda, Project Manager Earthquake Prevention Plan, reiterated the commitment of UNDP to support national and local authorities so that communities become more resilient "We must be prepared for any eventuality. We do not know when an earthquake will hit the North but we are certain that it will happen. For this reason at the level of UNDP, we place a high priority on this region. The masons that we will train in the coming months will have to support us in this perspective by strengthening if necessary existing buildings and by constructing new and stronger."

HL/ HaitiLibre