Above: Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro (UN Photo/Lou Rouse)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro begins an official visit to Haiti Tuesday.
It is the first visit by Maduro to Haiti since his election victory in April. It’s the second visit to a Caribbean neighbour by Maduro since his victory, following a trip to Cuba, Venezuela’s closest regional ally, in late April.
Haiti and Venezuela have deepened their ties in recent years, largely through the patronage of the late Hugo Chavez.
The talks will in part focus on the PetroCaribe agreement, which provides oil at concessionary lending rates.
That relationship has led to cooperation on everything from water distribution to a youth classical music programme to the expansion of Cap-Haiiten airport.
The latter led to a decision by Haiti’s government in late April to rename the Cap Haitien Airport after Chavez.