HAITIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT RENE PREVAL ON MONDAY ASKED THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL FOR MORE ASSISTANCE TO REVITALIZE HIS NATION'S DEVASTATED ECONOMY. 'INCREASED FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS REVEALED TO BE INDISPENSABLE TO STRENGTHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND TO SET THE SOCIOECONOMIC BASIS IN ORDER TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HAITI,' SAID PREVAL. PREVAL ASKED THAT ASSISTANCE BE CONCENTRATED IN THE REFORM OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE POLICE. 'WE HAVE POLICE WHO ARE EXTREMELY WEAK, EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL, AND CORRUPT,' HE TOLD REPORTERS AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING. 'I DEFINE TWO ESSENTIAL REFORMS FOR MY PRESIDENCY. NUMBER ONE, BUILDING INSTITUTIONS, AND NUMBER TWO, PRIVATE INVESTMENT,' PREVAL SAID, NOTING THAT HEALTH AND EDUCATION ALSO ARE PRIORITIES. ACCORDING TO THE U.N. CHILDREN'S FUND, HAITI ACCOUNTS FOR TWO PERCENT OF ALL BIRTHS IN THE CARIBBEAN, BUT 19 PERCENT OF ALL CHILD MORTALITY. PREVAL ALSO OUTLINED HAITI'S WORK WITH CUBA, WHICH PROVIDES 500 DOCTORS TO HAITI AND ALSO WORKS WITH HAITI IN TRAINING DOCTORS. HE SAID THAT HE PLANNED TO REPLACE THE CUBAN DOCTORS WITH HAITIAN ONES, BUT TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER COUNTRY TO CREATE A TRIPARTITE HEALTH AGREEMENT.
