One year on from a new mail sorting centre opening in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, the Post is showing signs of recovery.
“We are very happy to have this centre, which helps us provide services to the population. Little by little we are organizing ourselves,” says the Post’s director general, Edvard Despeignes. “We receive more mail than is sent out. Monthly, we are seeing a 4-per cent increase in volumes.”
Some 87 employees work in the capital’s main postal centre, which processes all incoming and outgoing mail. The facility – a 600-square meter tent-like structure – was built with the help of the UPU and its member countries.
Dedicated employees continue to face tremendous challenges to keep the mail moving, but their working conditions are beginning to improve.
Earlier this year, they finally received salaries thanks to a government loan. The Post had not been able to pay some staff for more than six months. Others working in the provinces were owed more than a year’s salary.
“The loan enabled us to pay arrears and pension contributions, so employees about to retire will be able to claim their pensions,” explains Despeignes. “This has served to motivate employees.”
The centre will also soon be equipped with air conditioning units to reduce the Caribbean capital’s stifling heat for employees as they work. The Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal is financing this project.
QSF projects
Meanwhile, the UPU has been working with Haiti Post on several other projects financed by resources from the Quality of Service Fund (QSF) and member-country donations.
South Korea’s donation of 100,000 USD from its QSF reserves financed the purchase of two mail vans in 2010. Haiti is also using its own QSF credits to buy other equipment, such as computers, franking machines and stationery.
The UPU works closely with the United Nations Development Programme in Haiti on the procurement of all equipment and vehicles.
Upcoming visit
Loretta Charlemagne, the UPU’s regional project coordinator for the Caribbean, will travel to Port-au-Prince on July 11 for a one-week mission.
She will follow up on projects undertaken, visit the mail processing centre and hold discussions with UNDP officials to identify additional means that could be used to develop the national postal network. She will also help develop a new QSF project, to be financed using a 51,000 USD contribution by Iran and Rwanda.
Advertising
In the meantime, Despeignes is busy launching an ad campaign for postal services in Port-au-Prince and the provinces.
“Our means are limited, but we are doing street banners and running radio spots. Letter carriers also distribute flyers at events and community celebrations.”
Haiti Post employs close to 500 employees. The 2010 earthquake left the postal network in shambles, destroying all postal buildings in the capital and several post offices in the surrounding areas and stopping all mail services during several months.