Interior and Local Government Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé chaired a working session last week on the situation in the La Gonâve arrondissement, iciHaiti reported on Monday, October 26. The aim was to better understand the island's main difficulties, its priority needs and its development potential.

Participants included Secretary of State for Local Government Sharina Lochard, West department delegate François Gérald, La Gonâve vice-delegate Ednel Désir and local government director Mallew Étienne, along with representatives of the national police and the health, education and environment ministries.

The main concerns raised were insecurity, poor access to basic services, economic hardship and weak coordination of public action. Désir described the problems residents face in health, education and security and asked that they be built into the government's priorities.

Bien-Aimé called for a concerted response from public authorities and highlighted the island's resources. Lochard urged better communication between state services and local authorities. Participants agreed to separate problems that can be solved quickly from those that need further study and follow-up.