Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - The partners in the Haiti-Canada Municipal Cooperation Project launched the second project phase (MCP2) today, during a ceremony at program headquarters in Port-au-Prince.
The Municipal Cooperation Project is a joint initiative of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) and the City of Montreal. The program's second phase will build on the achievements of the past three years, continuing to strengthen the institutional capacities of five Haitian territorial communities (the city of Port-au-Prince and the municipalities of Gressier, Léogâne, Grand-Goâve, and Petit-Goâve in the Palmes region), the national federations of local elected officials (FENAMH and FENACAH) and the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT).
The second phase of the Municipal Cooperation Program will be rolled out over the next five years (2014-19). The program's total budget of $21.4 million includes a $19.1-million contribution from Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada and $2.3 million in in-kind contributions from FCM, UMQ and the City of Montreal.
Memorandums of understanding
FCM President Claude Dauphin, City of Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, and UMQ First Vice-President Suzanne Roy joined Haitian Minister of the Interior and Territorial Communities David Bazile in signing a memorandum of understanding outlining their renewed collaboration.
The mayors of Montreal and Port-au-Prince, Denis Coderre and Pierre-Richard Joseph Duplan, also signed a separate memorandum of understanding on the next stage of their long-standing partnership. Its objectives include improving local governance by increasing citizens' participation in municipal decision-making and improved service delivery to Port-au-Prince residents.
In addition, on behalf of the Union des municipalités du Québec, Suzanne Roy confirmed a special agreement with the two national federations of local elected officials, FENACAH and FENAMH, to support their representation of municipal interests with the Haitian government and their objectives to diversify services for their members.
Canada's ambassador to Haiti, Gilles Rivard, witnessed the signing of the memorandums of understanding on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Palmes region
Mr. Dauphin and Ms. Roy will also visit the offices of the Palmes municipal community group (CMRP) and the inter-community reconstruction agency (DATIP) in Léogâne and Grand-Goâve, where they will sign a memorandum of understanding with the mayors of four Palmes communities and view the restoration work completed in Petit-Goâve's Place d'Armes as part of the MCP, and a stretch of road in Grand-Goâve, rebuilt by the Haiti emergency fund set up by the UMQ in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Port-au-Prince
City of Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre will also visit the Port-au-Prince city hall, and meet with SPVM (Service de police de la Ville de Montréal) officers and members of Haïti's bike brigade. He will also meet privately with President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. He will also attend meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Tourism, the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunications, and the Minister of Commerce and Industry, who is also Minister of Economy and Finance.
Visit to Haiti
FCM, UMQ and City of Montreal representatives will be in Haiti until March 15, 2014, to meet with elected officials and representatives of the Haitian government, the City of Port-au-Prince and the four Palmes communities.