Haiti - earthquake aftermath

G7 promises to scrap Haiti's debt

Article published on the 2010-02-07 Latest update 2010-02-08 12:24 TU

A police officer points his gun at alleged looters in Port-au-Prince
(Photo: Reuters)

The world's seven most industrialised countries promised to scrap Haiti's debt to them at a G7 meeting in Canada on Saturday. But the earthquake-hit country will still owe 890 million dollars -650 million euros), 41 per cent of it to the InterAmerican Development Bank and the World Bank.

"G7 will cancel all Haiti bilateral debt," Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told a press conference in Iqualit, in the north of the country, where the meeting is being held.

The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Haiti's debt to them has already been reduced during past relief efforts. 

In June the Paris Club of lenders in June agreed to cancel the remaining 214 million dollars (160 million euros) owed to it.

France, which had been phasing out Haiti's debt, called all the remaining 58 million euros after January's earthquake.

Le serment des ancêtres
Guillaume Guillon-Lethière

French firefighters on Saturday managed to salvage a number of historic works of art dating from the 19th and 20th centuries from the ruined presidential palace.

They included Oath of the ancestors by the Martiniquais artist Guillaume-Lethière. The 1822 painting portrays a historic agreement between General Jean-Jacqes Dessalines, the deputy leader of the slave revolt which led to Haiti's independence, and Alexandre Pétion, the leader of mixed race mulâtres, to join forces to fight French colonialism.

Haitian President René Préval called for "patience" and "solidarity" faced with the slow delivery of tents and food to earthquake victims.

Préval said that he understands the "frustration" of many Haitians who claim that the government has done litte to help them.