Above: Haiti’s Prime Minister (above) in Gonave (Photo: OPM Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s development plans are expanding to another new island.

As the country has looked to develop tourism projects on the island of Ile a Vache and signed a major deal with Carnival Cruise Lines for a project on the island of Ile de la Tortue, it’s looking to develop a third island: Gonave.

lle de la Gonave has a population of around 80,000, and a geographical area of just under 290 square miles.

That makes it the largest of Haiti’s islands, larger than both Ile a Vache and Ile de la Tortue.

Last week, Haiti President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe made a high-profile visit to the island, which is located off the western coast of Arcahaie.

“We want to promote the island, highlighting its potential in areas of tourism, fisheries and agriculture,” Lamothe said during the visit.

Lamothe said Haiti’s government planned to begin a public campaign on the island to engage community-based organizations, social movements and trade and agricultural associations on its proposed programmes.

“The change in La Gonave is imminent and immediate,” Lamothe said. “We must start now.”