Friday, Marie Carmelle Rose Anne Auguste, the Minister Responsible for Human Rights and the Fight against extreme poverty, met with twenty small merchants operating in 15 popular neighborhoods in order to make them aware on the need to participate in the beautification of their neighborhoods and keep clean the spaces of market. The Minister encouraged the merchants to contribute to the management initiatives and the recovery of organic waste, which constitute an important base in urban agriculture.

Marie Carmelle Rose Anne Auguste also welcomed the contribution of women to the national economy. "I believe in your determination and ability to make things happen. You are truly the lifeblood of the national economy." Despite the socio-economic difficulties, the Minister considers that people who live in poor neighborhoods, have the right to live in dignity "Even if you are in a situation of extreme poverty, you have the right to live in cleanliness."

"We will proceed to the sorting of household waste. Those recyclable will be used to make compost to feed our plants," declared a saleswoman of food products in Cite Soleil following the intervention of the Minister Auguste, adding "Cleanliness is a good thing. We will do our best to sell our products in a clean space."

A bonus of 4,000 Gourdes will be given to all small merchants involved in this cleaning operation of local markets. Some of them have promised to use a portion of this amount to increase their trade and with the rest, they plan to buy thing to give food at home.

The merchants took advantage of this meeting to raise a series of problems they face, including on the high interest rates charged by some institutions of micro-credit.

Recall that the cleaning of market is one of the various components of the special intervention plan against extreme poverty implemented in fifty precarious neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. In addition to the distribution of baskets of solidarity and voucher of solidarity, this 6 months plan also contains a literacy component that will enable householders illiterate to learn to read and write.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10123-haiti-social-special-intervention-plan-on-the-occasion-of-the-holiday-season.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9889-haiti-social-6-month-special-intervention-plan-against-extreme-poverty.html

HL/ PI/ HaitiLibre