New PM calls for support amid crisis

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haitian Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said on Wednesday during his first public appearance since his appointment by presidential decree that he would focus on fighting inequality while boosting the economy.

Mr Jouthe, a trained civil engineer, who was appointed this week by President Jovenel Moise, is an experienced policymaker. He was environment minister and interim finance minister, and worked for humanitarian agencies.

“We’re living today in a very precarious socio-economic situation which could lead at any time to a humanitarian disaster, our country is in agony,” he said.

“My government reiterates its commitment to continue working to improve public finances in order to increase gross domestic product, reduce inflation, increase public revenues and, above all, fight corruption.”

Mr Jouthe called on Haitians, the divided political class and international agencies to stand by him at a time of economic crisis. The US embassy pledged to work with Messrs Jouthe and Moise but urged them to improve security and economic growth, and organise “free, fair and credible legislative elections as soon as technically feasible”.

Economic repercussions of a threemonth countrywide lockdown are still unfolding in what was already the West’s poorest nation, where around two-thirds of adults are estimated to be unemployed or underemployed. Mr Moise has ruled Haiti by decree since January because the mandates of lower house deputies and most senators formally expired when no elections were held.