Haiti - Culture : Fruitful working sessions for Minister Raton in Spain
For her second day in Spain, Dithny Joan Raton, the Minister of Culture, held important and fruitful working sessions with, in the early morning, the eminent architect Rafael Moneo who worked on the Los Angeles Cathedral, the Prado Museum, that of Romano de Merida as well as the Museum Romano of Cartagena.
Subsequently, the Minister and members of the delegation : Patrick Durandis Director General of the National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN), the monument architect Patrick Delatour and former Minister of Culture Eddy Lubin, met with the Spanish Secretary of State for Culture, Jose Maria Lasalle. With him, the team discussed the Spanish Cooperation in Haiti in particular, interventions of the latter in the context of certain building projects and heritage protection including : the rehabilitation of the Iron Market (Jacmel) and the restoration of the former prison of Jacmel. Ms. Raton also stressed the need for both countries to set up a Continuing Education program for young Haitian professionals working in the field of heritage protection.
Later in the day, the Haitian delegation was received by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation Ibero-America, Jesus M. Gracia Aldaz. The objective of Haitian officials, was to strengthen the International Cooperation Ibero-America initiatives in Haiti and extend its scope to other departments. They also advocated for the establishment of scientific cooperation in the North, including on the project of "Parc de la Natividad" including the former Spanish city of Puerto Real.
The Secretary of State Aldaz, reiterated the commitment of the Spanish Cooperation to continue its work in Haiti, especially in the Great south, but stressed that it could nevertheless support a possible project in the North Department of Haiti.
