Above: Haiti PM Laurent Lamothe and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias jaua Milano (Photo: OPM Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe traveled to Venezuela on Tuesday to continue bilateral talks on the PetroCaribe Agreement.

The agenda of the one-day visit included a meeting with Venezuelan Vice President Rafael Ramirez to discuss “the ability to import new oil products for the benefit of the Haitian people,” according to a statement from Lamothe’s office.

Lamothe also discussed the establishment of a $25 million fund for Haiti with the leaders of the Caracas-based CAF — Latin American Development Bank, which supports funding in some PetroCaribe member states.

Lamothe is being joined by Agriculture Minister Thomas Jacques on the trip, which also features working sessions on agricultural import and agro-industry as ways to repay debt incurred by Haiti’s government under PetroCaribe.

Lamothe visited Venezuela in early October, joined by Jacques and by Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin. That visit covered the establishment of the new PetroCaribe Economic Zone.

Lamothe returns Tuesday evening to Haiti.