By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Haitian economy is projected to grow 8 percent in 2012, following 4.5 percent growth in 2011, according to a report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean.

The total GDP growth rate is the largest projected growth rate for any country in Latin America and the Caribbean next year.

It represents a significant turnaround from 2010, when the country’s GDP contracted by 5.1 percent, largely due to the devastating earthquake in January of that year.

Regional growth for Latin America and the Caribbean is projected at 3.7 percent in 2012, following an estimated 4.3 percent growth this year.