Above: Swiss Ambassador Edita Vokral and Haiti PM Laurent Lamothe (Photo: OPM Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe met Friday with Swiss Ambassador Edita Vokral.

The two sides focused on ways to increase cooperation between the two countries.

In a statement, Lamothe said he placed “particular emphasis” on the need for state structures to take precedence over NGOs in regard to the manage of development programmes in Haiti.

According to Vokral, Switzerland is “committed” to a series of initiatives in Haiti, including the long-term protection of the pine forest and support for Haiti’s water treatment infrastructure. The latter will involve the installation of 10 new water treatment laboratories aimed at combating cholera in the country.

Switzerland and Haiti are also working on ways to rebuild school infrastructure in Haiti, in partnership with Haiti’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training.