Pradel Henriquez, the Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Culture Jean Michel Lapin, in the presence of representatives of Spanish cooperation, Marky Kessa, the Mayor of the town of Jacmel, the Director General and ISPAN technicians, executives and students of the École Atelier de Jacmel among others, symbolically laid the first stone in the name of the Minister Lspin, of the restoration of the iron market, financed by Spanish cooperation to the tune of 600,000 Euros. This new market, the architecture of which will remain unchanged, will be used to house painting and crafts and will provide tourist services.

The launch of restoration work on this market, built at the end of the 19th century by the poet Alcibiade Pomayrac, which has been dilapidated for years, represents an important step for the Ministry in the process of valuing this heritage, pride of Jacmelians reminded Henriquez, stressing that the objectives of Minister Lapin are articulated around the enhancement of heritage resources, the restoration of historic and tourist sites, the consolidation of cultural industries, the promotion of artistic creation and cultural development, cultural planning and the preservation of cultural identity.

Henriquez added that the Ministry "will work on strengthening the capacities of associations of craftsmen in Jacmel and on the finish and quality of cultural and craft products and will also develop an interpretation plan for the iron market and an integrated management plan to make it profitable."

Regarding the management of the Jacmel iron market building, Henriquez said that a safety plan will be drawn up with the presence of firefighters on site. The town hall of Jacmel will organize itself to prepare a plan for maintaining the market, reinforcing the staff and the cultural department of the town hall.

TB/ HaitiLibre