Friday at the Hotel Royal Oasis, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe attended the graduation ceremony of 125 new customs control agents (1st Promotion), accompanied by Wilson Laleau, Minister of Economy and Finance and Fresnel Jean Baptiste, Director of the General Administration of Customs (AGD).

The training of these young people, within the framework of efforts by the Government to strengthen and support the AGD in the fight against smuggling, essential to the increase in customs revenue. "These agents are invested with a dual mission: to enforce the country and restore the authority of the state," explained the Head of Government.

The presence of the Prime Minister at the ceremony, to which also attended the Ambassador of France, Patrick Nicoloso, reflected the priority given to the AGD, particularly in its mission of collector of revenue necessary to the sustainability of social programs implemented by the Administration Martelly, in order to reduce extreme poverty in Haiti [more than 24 billion gourdes already collected for 2012-2013 already collected for 2012-2013].

By participating in this ceremony, Laurent Lamothe wanted to sensitize these new agents around the task that awaits them, by calling them to demonstrate patriotism and professionalism in the performance of their duties.

As evidence of the immediate support of the Government, the Prime Minister will provide the first promotion operates a fleet of 50 vehicle whose 14 have already been purchased and the process is still underway for the acquisition of the remaining 36.

Prime Minister Lamothe, while renewing the confidence placed in the AGD, invited the Director-General, Mr Fresnel Jean Baptiste, to proceed with the recruitment of a new promotion to accelerate the process of strengthening the AGD and eradicate smuggling along the Haitian-Dominican border. This second group will have at least 30% of women in accordance with the Constitution.

For his part, Jean-Baptiste Fresnel, noted that "This border control will have two beneficial effects for the country. Immediate effect by the increased revenue, secondary effect by the promotion of local businesses [...] by banishing unfair competition [...]"

The deployment of these new agents into the customs territory of Haiti, will begin Monday.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9594-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8621-haiti-security-42-students-in-custom-trained-in-techniques-of-control-and-intervention.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7814-haiti-education-training-of-60-customs-officers.html

HL/ HaitiLibre