Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe held the first meeting of exchanges between the new Haitian government and the so-called “Group of 12” donors to Haiti on Tuesday.

Lamothe, joined by Economy Minister Marie-Carmelle Jean Marie and Planning and External Cooperation Minister Josepha Gauthier, met with Nigel Fisher, the United Nations’ Resident Coordinator for Haiti.

The Group of 12 was originally the G11, with members including Canada, the European Union, France, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, Japan, Spain, the United Nations, USAID, the World Bank and a representative of Argentina/Brazil/Chile.

It now includes Norway.

The two sides held talks on a range of issues including Haiti’s strategic development plan, the pace of execution of projects and the promotion of the state budget as a means of implementing public policies, among others.

There have been significant questions over the allocation and disbursement of donor funds in Haiti, brought to prominence by journalist Michele Mitchell’s film, “Haiti, Where Did the Money Go?”

Lamothe called on donors to commit to the implementation of a strategic development plan for Haiti by 2030.

He also his government’s commitment to escape Haiti’s “absolute dependence” on external aid.

Lamothe and the group reiterated their “common will” to work together for Haiti’s sociopolitical development.