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Haiti - Politics : Privert's Speech on the State of the Nation 10/01/2017 09:19:49
Speech on the State of the Nation : "[...] The opening of the first ordinary session of 2017, you will agree, takes a special connotation to the memory of the uncertainties that have marked our painful journey through the ruts of uncertainties that seemed to undermine our ambitions and our hopes in the future of our democracy and the consolidation of the rule of law in the country. Throughout the year 2016, I never stopped hammering that a risk of dysfunction threatened all republican institutions in early 2017, if free, transparent, democratic and inclusive elections did not gives the country of legitimate authorities at all levels of power. The challenges were many. Beyond the material, financial and infrastructural challenges - to which I shall refer later - the main obstacle was that of the confidence. Many actors, decision-makers and partners did not believe it was possible to make this difficult turn, to achieve this gigantic and necessary leap towards the stabilization of our institutions and the social and political pacification of the country. Today, this return to parliament shows that the patriotic outburst has overcome pessimism, thanks to the fruitful virtues of dialogue, work, firmness and determination. Ladies and gentlemen, Honorable Senators and Deputies, [...] VIOLENCE AND INSECURITY The proclamation of the results of the first round of presidential elections in October 2015 was welcomed throughout the country by street demonstrations accompanied by acts of violence, which continued until February 2016. My election to the Provisional presidency of the country, the opening of consultations with the political actors and the formation of this consensus government, allowed a marked slowdown of these demonstrations and established a beneficial atmosphere of peace and stability. Recent challenges, as a result of the outcome of the elections of 20 November, have never reached the magnitude or impact that we experienced at the beginning of 2016. I would like to congratulate, in this regard, the police forces, which, while respecting each citizen's right to demonstrate, were able to avoid major overflows. THE ECONOMIC SITUATION: THE INFLATION AND THE FALL OF THE GOURDE In this context, the macroeconomic management of the Government and the leaders of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti has been prudent and effective. A simple glance at the table of financial and monetary parameters reveals the maintenance of growth of 1.4%, albeit modest, but still higher than the previous year, and sustained, for the first time since several years, by the market production of which agriculture - + 3%, against the sharp fall of 5,4% last year - and the manufacturing industry - + 1,5%. However, growth was unsurprisingly affected by the stagnation in the construction and public works sectors (0.2%), on the one hand, and the weak growth in the sub-sector "trade, restaurants and hotels" as a result of the prudence of investors in the sector due to the uncertain and unstable political environment. Good public finance management, characterized by the virtual absence of additional central government debt during the second half of fiscal year 2015-16 since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cash Management between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the BRH, made it possible to escape the need for monetary financing of the Treasury by the Central Bank. BRH's international foreign exchange reserves rose sharply - from US $ 767 million in December 2015 to US $ 925 million in December 2016 - an unusual trend in the election period of 157 million, where the expectation would be that pressure on public spending would subsequently lead to the use of foreign exchange reserves to counter inflationary pressures. It is important to note also the significant slowdown in the rate of depreciation of the gourde. At an annual rate of around 40% during the first half of fiscal year 2015-16, it has fallen to about 13% since the end of last March. Paradoxically, it is not without interest to mention the positive effects of the depreciation of the gourde, which, coupled with the incentives implemented by the BRH during the year, had the virtue of stimulating the future competitiveness of industries (Export, agriculture and tourism). This is reflected in the strong demand for textile exporting industrial spaces and the significant job creation prospects of this industry over the next twenty-four (24) months (nearly 40,000 according to SONAPI data and of the Association of Industries of Haiti). [...] THE YEAR AHEAD I arrived at the head of the country in February 2016 in a context of explosion close to chaos and anarchy. The future was bleak and no one really knew what the next day would be like. Today, on 7 February 2017, I am preparing to give back to the newly elected, a politically peaceful and socially more peaceful country, strengthened by the confidence that has been restored in the institutions and the authorities. I hope that all those disappointed with the results of the jousts of 20 November 2016 will make the great patriotic sacrifice to organize a peaceful, democratic and constructive opposition to the newly elected, whatever their level. Haiti must be for every citizen, the candidate perpetually and indefinitely winning. I am entitled to pride myself on having helped to rid the horizon of the aftermath of the evil shadows of political uncertainty and social disarray. One of my dearest and most ardent wishes for Haiti and for the Haitian people is that the new authorities can improve this fragile legacy so that they can now enter a virtuous circle of growth and confidence, political stability and economic progress, permanent dialogue, social peace and democracy. [...]" Read the omplet speech in French : https://www.haitilibre.com/article-19761-haiti-politique-discours-de-privert-sur-l-etat-de-la-nation.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19759-haiti-politics-swearing-in-of-6-new-senators.html HL/ HaitiLibre
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