Haitian recovery is picking up pace with a new mail processing centre inaugurated in thecountry’s capital Port-au-Prince six months after the devastating earthquake in January.
The new postal installation was built as part of an emergency aid project managed by the UPU anddeveloped with the assistance of the United Nations agency’s member countries.
About 60 employees are now working at the 600 sqm facility handling mail, parcels and EMSshipments. It also provides mail distribution through post boxes acting as an exchange office forinternational mail. All mail coming to Haiti and leaving the country is being processed through thecentre, which also houses customs services.
The new postal facility, which looks like an enormous tent, is designed to resist winds of up to225 kilometres an hour and “zone 4” seismic activity (high risk of damages). For added security,the structure has been solidly anchored at the base.
The centre’s equipment was purchased with donations from UPU member countries and theorganisation’s normal budget. Some countries also donated sorting cases, work tables, bags,generators and postal vehicles.
UPU Director General Edouard Dayan said: “The Post, due to its omnipresence and the services itprovides to people and businesses, must be a priority in the devastated country’s reconstructionefforts. Within the United Nations, we will continue to highlight the importance of integratingpostal services in plans designed to stimulate Haiti’s economy. Haiti needed emergency assistance,and this assistance remains necessary. But today we must look to the future and develop theessential infrastructures the country needs, including postal services.”
The January earthquake destroyed Port-au-Prince’s main post office and the building housing theEMS service. Other post offices in outlying areas were also destroyed or severely damaged, UPU saidin a statement. Member countries responded to the UPU’s call for assistance and contributed morethan $500,000 to a special fund. They also offered human and material resources to help Haiti andits postal operator resume postal services as quickly as possible.
International postal services between Haiti and the 190 other UPU member countries officiallyresumed on 11 May. On 3 May, the country had started exchanging mail with France and the UnitedStates. Therefore, the post office in Delmas, located in the suburbs of the capital, was renovatedto resume operations until the new mail processing centre was completed. Haiti receives an averageof 100 mail bags from abroad daily.
Edvard Despeignes, acting director general of the Haitian Post, remains optimistic for thefuture. “This new mail processing centre is a major step in helping the Haitian Post function,” hesaid. “Since the resumption of international mail services, volumes have been increasing. Since theearthquake had destroyed the Post’s capacity to process mail at its main postal building, it wasimportant and urgent to create an appropriate space to receive and expedite mail. The Haitian Postis now prepared to return to normal mail flows and anticipates an increase of local andinternational mail volumes.”
The UPU said it will continue to work with the Haitian Post to strengthen its postal network andmodernise its postal services, especially with the introduction of electronic postal moneytransfers.
