Haiti: President Martelly says He Will Decide on Full Membership into ALBA

CARACAS, Venezuela (defend.ht) – President Michel Martelly attended the 11th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA) where Haiti is an observing member. In a television interview, the president said that ALBA provides a chance at a better life for Haitians.

In the interview with teleSUR, Martelly said “any other country that declares its love for Haiti should understand that in this time of great need, it has a leader who is responsible and wants to change the lives of its people in 2012.”

The president also said that Haiti is “a country that is not organized and that terrorism can easily enter and do any kind of action…” and that it is “only through economic development that the situation can chance who can oppose this?” he said.

Martelly says full membership into ALBA is not to buy arms but to change the lives of all citizens who have been victims of the earthquake of 2012, “who can be against this?” he asked again.

”It is important to correct that we are exploring the possibility of entering ALBA. We have asked what it is check the bloc, as our position was previously an observer and to become a full member we need to meet with this group of countries to listen to proposals and then move forward,” Martelly said.

”Being an observer allowed us to verify how good are some programs such as Petrocaribe and other agreements that have been offered to us. We are here (Venezuela) to understand more deeply what is ALBA,” said Martelly.

President Michel Martelly stressed that ALBA has programs that invest in agriculture and that could help Haiti develop its sector, “in exchange for aid could be export goods that might occur,” he said.

”They can buy (products) that the various members of ALBA, create jobs, reduce hunger and could increase imports. It is what we call economic growth… in Haiti those who have been affected by the earthquake can get help to rebuild the country… in Haiti many are still living in camp shelters,” Martelly said.

On January 11th, the Haitian president said he is assessing the possibility of full membership into ALBA. On Saturday, President Martelly said he would meet with his political team to make a final decision and shall specify whether he will formally adhere to ALBA.

The President of the Senate, Simon Desras (Centre/Lavni) was not aware of the intentions of the Head of State at the ALBA summit but warned the executive that it would take ratification from both houses of the legislature for Haiti to enter into any international agreement.