Wednesday, Marie-Carmèle Rose Anne Auguste, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of human rights and the fight against extreme poverty ended a working mission in Caracas (Venezuela) with the Venezuelan authorities.

During his stay, the Haitian delegation composed of Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture, Karl Jean-Louis, Director of cabinet of Prime Minister, Mr Guy Williams, Adviser to the Prime Minister, Engineer Harry Adam, Director of the Unit for Housing Construction and Public Buildings (UCLBP), Michael Lecorps, Director of the Office of monetization of programs of development assistance (BMPAD), and Régine Godfrey, Head of Communication of Special Plans, exchanged ideas and shared experiences with their counterparts from Venezuela on social development and poverty eradication.

Upon his arrival in Caracas, the delegation visited an Centre of Integration in the popular neighborhood of Catia where approximately 1 million people live. The citizens of this neighborhood, which manages this center with a community participatory approach, have built their own model of integration to improve their quality of life. The members of the delegation were able to discover a rewarding experience of textile manufacturing where workers produce uniforms for the company "Petróleos de Venezuela SA" (PDVSA).

The Venezuelan authorities also shared with the Haitian delegation a rich experience in urban agriculture with the support of the Cuban cooperation, where people grow vegetables and clean up their neighborhood by recycling organic waste for compost production, in order to strengthen agricultural production and improve the nutritional health of the community. The maintenance of community gardens is provided by the people of the community, especially the elderly.

Members of the Haitian delegation also visited a clinic in primary health care and playgrounds multi-sports. These actions have were also made by the population in the context of a participatory community organization.

Before returning to Port-au-Prince, the Haitian delegation met with other members of the Venezuelan government, including the Minister responsible for matters of Latin America, the Minister of housing and eco-socialist, Ricardo Molina, and the Vice President of Social Development, Hector Rodriguez.

HL/ HaitiLibre