Above: OAS SG Jose Miguel Insulza and Haiti President Michel Martelly

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s government is making a bid to host the CARIFESTA arts and music festival in 2015, according to President Michel Martelly.

CARIFESTA is returning in 2013 after a five-year hiatus, with Suriname performing hosting duties.

It’s part of a drive by Haiti to deal “on equal terms” with its CARICOM partners, according to a statement from the National Palace.

Haiti President Michel Martelly, who attended this week’s CARICOM Summit in St Lucia, was on hand for the signing of a Memorandum between CARICOM and Haiti for institution building, the revival of agriculture and investment facilitation.

Martelly presented Haiti’s strategic objectives at the working session with fellow leaders, focusing on Haiti’s quest to improve its image in the international arena, the improvement of Haiti’s living conditions and improved, sustainable development.

The CARIFESTA bid is part of several Haitian initiatives related to CARICOM: earlier this week, Martelly called for the regional body to adopt French as an official language, and is looking to integrate Haitian professionals into the CARICOM Secretariat.

Martelly also held talks with Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, focusing on Haiti’s democracy push and the recent swearing-in of a new council on judicial power.