On Monday at the National Palace, President Jovenel Moïse marked the first anniversary of the official launch (May 1, 2017) of his "Caravan of Change" and gave himself a satisfecit for all the progress made at a balance conference of one hour, during which, he expressed enthusiasm many figures among others (144 km of agricultural roads rehabilitated in the Artibonite, more than 200 km of roads undergoing rehabilitation (across the country), 400 km of irrigated canals, containment of 11 rivers in the South, the Nippes, the West and the Center, 66 drinking water supply systems rehabilitated in the South...) without however indicating the amount of the expenditures made during this first year nor the total number of jobs created by the caravan for 1 year.

Not wishing to epilogate on the balance sheet of his Caravan, the Head of State rather preferring to talk about future changes and promises of electricity 24/7 in Haiti [in 14 months] or the upcoming construction of 15,000 classrooms...

The objective of the Caravan was to increase the production of agricultural products especially in the valley of Artibonite where the caravan spent 54 days with heavy equipment to clean the canals and rebuild the irrigation systems among others. However, no one is able to confirm from sources other than Government releases, if the promises have been kept, if the rice harvests have increased and if the partnership between the groups of planters has allowed a better distribution of wealth and a reduction of inequalities.

In terms of the environment, compacting trucks for collecting rubbish have been distributed to town halls, but the bicentennial remains like many streets in the capital, still buried under tons of rubbish...

If for the Head of State the progress is undeniable, for many observers it is a mixed record for lack of certain precise data, as for the opposition this Caravan serves only the interests of the close ones of the power and is only demagogy...

HL/ HaitiLibre