Speaking at the session of the second day of the 33rd CARICOM Summit which takes place in Gros Islet (Saint Lucia) and that ends this Friday, July 6, the President Martelly asked, as he already did it at the 32nd Summit of CARICOM in July 2011, that French be accepted as an official language and/or or work alongside English, in order to promote the development of negotiations and the regional integration process.

Indeed, CARICOM is the only integration scheme in the world where English is the only official language. Now, more than 55% of CARICOM are francophone or Creole speakers; and Haitians, alone represent over 50% of the demographic weight of CARICOM. he impact of language is important in the conduct of negotiations, and as well in the integration process. Thus, Haiti insists so that this point be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Group on Revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Moreover, the President Martelly argued in favor of the integration of middle Haitian executives within the CARICOM Secretariat. Currently, only one Member State occupies more than three quarters of the total number of employees to Georgetown, what goes against the principle established in Article 23.2 of the Revised Treaty requiring that the recruitment of Secretariat staff is done in compliance with rules established, on a basis that respects the equitable geographical distribution.

The President Michel Martelly, is to this 33rd Summit to present the new climate of political stability prevailing in Haiti, that puts the country in a better position to deal on equal terms with its partners. Haiti must also ensure of its impregnation of the mission and of objectives of the Community, convey the will of the new Government to strengthen state institutions, to institutionalize the rule of law, to ensure the revival of the national economy and pave the way for sustainable development of the country.

The Haitian head of state, remains in favor of the integration policy of countries of the region and to the strengthening of external relations, but requires that "the benefits are tangible for Haiti and meet the real needs of the Haitian people."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6058-haiti-politic-the-president-martelly-in-st-lucia-to-defend-the-interests-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3288-haiti-politic-remarks-of-martelly-to-the-32nd-meeting-of-the-conference-of-heads-of-government-of-the-caricom.html

HL/ HaitiLibre