Haiti - Politic : René Jean Jumeau, Minister Delegate for Energy Security
Wednesday, a new position was created, that of Minister Delegate for Energy Security. The Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe proceeded to the installation of René Jean Jumeau, former Secretary of State for Energy in this new function. Speaking to the new Minister Delegate, Laurent Lamothe declared "[...] By creating this position, we wanted to show clearly, how important is the 5th 'E' [Energy], in the vision of President Michel Martelly.
Guided by his sense of work and supervised by a dynamic team, I am confident that together, the Minister, the private sector and international donors, we will be able to drive the ship of responsibilities, which is of paramount importance for the Government and the Haitian people. [...]
it is necessary that you put yourself at work now, because there is an electrical problem that is serious and I would like, that you have solutions. I know that the solutions will not be immediate, I know it will take time, but at least I know that we have the EDH [Electricity of Haiti] and the entire private sector. Sit with them, because there are fundamental problems [...] I think we should sit with the private sector so that it better benefits to them and the public sector. For things to be done in the interest of all, so that we are win-win. I think, on this point, that it is the Commission who must work on the national energy plan, so that we have 500MW, so that we have distribution throughout the country and that the meters enters at the inhabitant in prepaid, like that there will be no problem.
[...] I ask you to work, even if you have to work 20 hours a day [...] so that the results come quickly [...] I'm a busy man and I'm really pressed in the case of energy."
In his speech, René Jean Jumeau declared "[...] The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, have understood the necessity to accelerate, to intensify action to be made in this priority area, which is Energy. All other things that must be done in the country [...] need energy. The President and the Prime Minister, saw the importance of removing the issue of energy poverty, to move Haiti toward energy wealth. We will work to see how we will manage this issue of energy security..."
