The Interministerial Committee for Territorial Development (CIAT) opened Friday morning at the Karibe Convention Center, a round table on the theme : "Land ownership and land security : the perspectives today". Held under the high patronage of President Michel Martelly, this initiative brings together all the stakeholders concerned by the subject, to pose the land problematic in Haiti and identify possible solutions. More than two hundred surveyors, Notaries, Lawyers, executives of state institutions involved in land issues, members of civil society and the private sector, are currently discussing around this problem, which dates from the beginning of the independence of Haiti.

In his opening remarks, Ms. Michèle Oriol, the Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Development (CIAT), has justified of the necessity of a land reform in Haiti. She recognizes that it is a long process, "Initiate a land reform today is to open a project of 20 years." However, for her, all stakeholders concerned are ready to start the land reform.

During the first part of the morning, themes relating to legal and institutional framework were discussed. In his speech : "The State and its domain", Mr. Ronald Deshommes, Assistant Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), addressed the issue of the responsibility of the Haitian government and the actions taken by the MEF to contribute to the land reform.

The Jurist Sharina Lochard, spoke on the theme of the "Declaration of public utility: principle and practice". From the outset, she made the distinction between dDeclaration of public utility and expropriation, while noting that only the state can implement the expropriation. "This can be done for the benefit of public entities and private individuals concessionaires of public services", noted the jurist, who stated that a reform is obviously necessary to the current provisions of the Department of Public Utility (DUP).

The issue of property tax was also discussed. Can not be physically present, the Senator Jocelerme Privert evoked all the contours of the question through a video projection. Me Monferrier Dorval, who provided an update on the subject : "Rule of law, land disputes and judicial reform", stressed the need to apply the rules of law in terms of land ownership, to prevent conflicts : "The non-application of rules lead to a situation of widespread disorder and violence," he recalled.

Discussions will continue until 5:30 this afternoon to find the best formula to begin land reform in Haiti.

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HL/ HaitiLibre