Social and Environmental Safeguards

From the Press

IDB hails new industrial park in northern Haiti
Monday, 22 October 2012 21:16 UTC

Manufacturing facility generates jobs, exports in less than one year since groundbreaking.

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. (IDB) -- Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno today joined Haitian President Michel Martelly, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. President Bill Clinton for the inauguration of the Caracol Industrial Park (CIP), a modern manufacturing facility in northern Haiti.

La BID : 50 millions de dollars pour le Parc industriel de Caracol
La Banque interaméricaine de développement (BID) a annoncé l’accord pour l’octroi d’un don pour Haïti s’élevant à 50 millions de dollars américains. Ces fonds sont destinés à la deuxième phase de construction du Parc Industriel de Caracol dans le nord d’Haïti.

FACT CHECK — THE NEW YORK TIMES: Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken

On July 6, 2012, the New York Times published an article entitled: “Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken”. The piece has numerous factual errors and does not address many of the most salient points about the development of the Northern Corridor.

«Je suis impressionné», s'exclame le président Martelly - Haïti: Lundi 7 mai 2012. Il est 11 h 25 a.m. Le président Michel Joseph Martelly arrive à bord d'un hélico. Il foule le sol du parc industriel de Caracol en compagnie de l'ambassadeur américain Kenneth Merten et du ministre de l'Éducation nationale et de la Formation professionnelle, Réginald Paul. Tenue décontractée : chemise rayée, pantalon jeans bleu bottes. Il n'a pas effectué une visite surprise, car on l'attendait depuis son retour au pays après quelques jours d'absence pour des raisons de santé. Il n'y a pas eu de foule au parc industriel, mais des employés qui criaient vive Martelly!

Caracol : le rêve de 20 000 emplois prendra forme très lentement : Ceux qui avaient visité le Nord et le Nord-Est, à la fin de 2011 et au début de cette année 2012, ont constaté toute la propagande, à travers d'énormes panneaux publicitaires faite autour du parc industriel de Caracol, avant parc industriel de la région Nord. Ces messages annonçaient la création de 20 000 emplois au cours de cette année. La réalité en a décidé autrement. Quelle réalité ? --Le Nouvelliste 3 mai 2012

"We're no longer talking just about garment assembly. We are talking about a true textile industry short of planting cotton. That is what is being developed', said George Sassine, who is also responsible for implementing the US congress-approved duty-free legislation benefitting the garment industry". -- The Miami Herald, 29 March 2011

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The Caracol Park is more than a business investment: it is a pledge to work with the Haitian Government and people to bring jobs and commerce back to Haiti. To achieve this objective, continued engagement with the local communities is essential.

Frequent meetings have been held with the local communities in the North, providing opportunity to share their thoughts and give feedback on the project. The Mayor's office in the town of Caracol has been inaugurated after a complete renovation, providing a meeting space for the community to discuss the Caracol Park and other matters affecting the region. The GOH has launched a communication campaign with radio spots, billboards and information kiosks to ensure everyone is informed about the benefits of the park and the progress of the project.
The GOH has completed a farmer compensation plan after a consultation process spanning several months. The plan ensures that farmers who would otherwise be adversely affected by the construction of the Park are compensated and receive opportunity to sustain their livelihoods.
The amount of water required by Sae-A and other potential tenants of the park has been calculated and state of the art waste water treatment facilities have been included, both for domestic and industrial waste water discharge. All water used in Caracol Park operations will be treated to meet U.S. environmental guidelines, with regular independent audits as required by U.S. and other international buyers. These modern facilities will allow a garment manufacturer for the first time to produce apparel with fabric made in Haiti.
The Caracol Park project has undergone extensive environmental assessments. An environmental plan has been communicated to the local community, which not only ensures that environmental impacts are carefully mitigated, but also includes additional investments to restore and safeguard the environmental assets of this beautiful and diverse region of Haiti.
The Caracol Park and all its tenants are required to adhere to the International Labor Organization's (ILO) highest standards. The industry in Haiti collaborates with the ILO's Better Work program and regular audits are being conducted to comply with the strict criteria of the U.S. trade preference program and of buyers. The employees at the Park will have access to nutritious food at competitive rates in canteens which will be conveniently located onsite, providing a new market for local farmers and produce.