ALBA Promotes New Initiatives and Helps Haiti Recover

CARACAS.— The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA) adopted on Monday the SUCRE virtual regional currency, as an alternative to the US dollar; and created the ALBA Food Company, two important projects that will also help Haiti recover from the devastation following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on January 12.

During the Second Meeting of Agriculture Ministers of ALBA member nations, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said the ALBA alliance will continue to help Haiti by implementing mid and long-term action plans aimed at reconstructing the nation after the damage left behind by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that killed 100,000 people.

Maduro criticized several international press agencies that withdrew their reporters after the catastrophe, and added that we must rescue Haiti’s people from oblivion and agony.

The ALBA Political Council drew up an emergency relief plan focusing on rebuilding the health sector, stimulating food distribution and reforesting the country to mitigate devastating climate change effects.

President Hugo Chavez announced that Venezuela has cancelled Haiti’s debt and will continue to send fuel./ Equipped with tents, latrines and running water, Venezuela has set up the Simon Bolivar 1 camp in Haiti to provide shelter to 2,000 homeless people, according to a special correspondent of the Venezuelan Venezolana de Television TV station.

Providing food, medical care and, if possible, a provisional school for the children is also among the priorities.

After approving the creation on Tuesday of a Regional Monetary Council of ALBA, Chavez announced the adoption of the SUCRE as an alternative to the US dollar, with a value of 1 SUCRE= USD$1.25. This step will prove critical in consolidating regional unity, reducing dependence on the US dollar and securing greater monetary and financial sovereignty among ALBA members, Chavez assured.

They also agreed on creating an ALBA Food Company that will be using the SUCRE as the exchange currency; thus breaking the capitalist mechanisms that have only plunged Latin America into misery and hunger, said Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua. Jaua, who is also the Venezuelan vice-president, explained the ALBA food company is to produce seeds, fertilizers, farm equipment and machinery; provide stimulus to primary sectors; and create exchange mechanisms that help reduce food shortage.

The Council will continue to work on Thursday, when the ministers will pass on a final document. Attending the meeting that began on Wednesday are Cuban Minister of the Food Industry María del Carmen Concepción; Bolivian Minister of Rural Development Nemecia Achacollo Tola; Nicaraguan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry, Ariel Bucardo; Ecuadorean Vice Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fishing Juan Manuel Domínguez; Dominican Minister of Agriculture and Forest Matthew Walter; and Chanlah Lorencezo, from Antigua and Barbuda.

On the TV program La Hojilla, Chávez announced that Elias Jaua Milano has been appointed Venezuela’s new Executive Vice President, while General Carlos Mata Figueroa, who will continue to lead the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, was appointed Defense Minister. Alejandro Hitcher, current president of the Hidroven Company, was appointed Minister of Environment.

Chavez called on the Venezuelan people not to listen to rumors and fall into the violence called upon by the opposition from their media outlets.

On Tuesday, there were violent demonstrations in several Venezuelan cities by small groups of young students of private schools and universities.