The presidential order signed in the Council of Ministers March 18, 2015, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13434-haiti-notice-single-uniform-for-students-in-public-schools.html , stipulating that public school students, both fundamental as secondary, now will wear the same uniform, from the academic year 2015-2016, is making waves among importers, wholesalers and traders directly affected by this decision.

In a statement, a group of ten importers and traders, without challenging the decision, deplored "not having been consulted and informed prior to the implementation of such regulations."

They point out that it is "[...] impossible to implement such a measure for the next school year to be held in six months," explaining that "all material intended for making uniforms for the school year 2015-2016 is already available or on irreversible order, according to the usual colors used by high schools, for delivery in the coming weeks [...]"

These businessmen remind the Government that "the purchasing and manufacturing cycle of uniforms normally takes a period of 9 to 12 months involving heavy investments amounting to several million US dollars [...]" and wondered how the government intends to manage the economic consequences of that decision.

This grouping believes "[...] that between wholesalers, shopkeepers and dressmakers who cut, overlap and produces in Haiti's cities and countryside, from 30.000 to 40.000 intermediate live directly and indirectly from this activity."

Finally, they suggest the authorities "[...] to open as soon as possible a dialogue with economic stakeholders to postpone the implementation of this decision to the school year 2016-2017, in order not to penalize this sector already weakened by the country's economic context."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13509-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-13434-haiti-notice-single-uniform-for-students-in-public-schools.html

HL/ HaitiLibre