News
Haitians remember victims of earthquake 4 years ago
The day in the capital began like any other Sunday with churchgoers dressed in their best skirts and slacks wending their way through streets noticeably clear of the rubble that clogged them long after the quake. Haiti’s radio and television stations played somber programs and music. The Martelly administration declared a day of remembrance and reflection, with the Haitian flag flown at half-staff and clubs ordered closed.
Almost all the rubble in the capital has finally been carted off and many of the tent encampments are less visible, replaced by construction sites. However, the reconstruction effort has been relatively slow, with promised aid money slow to come because of the reluctance of donors to provide funds amid the global economic downturn.
Despite the challenges faced by the country, there has been movement in the right direction – with gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4.3 percent in 2013 compared to 2.02 percent in 2012. Foreign direct investments also increased by 25 percent in the same period, while the inflation rate fell to 4.5 percent in 2013 against 6.5 percent recorded in 2012.
Source: Associated Press
