Monday, on the occasion of the celebration of the fifth anniversary of existence of Multimedia Centre of the MINUSTAH, officials of the Regional Office of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) of Jacmel have announced for June 18 the relocation of the Multimedia Center of Jacmel at the base of the mission located in the are of the Aviation.

During a meeting with the Press in the premises of the Centre, Jean Patrick Mackintosh, the Communications Officer of the Regional Office of the MINUSTAH in the Southeast stated that "[...] this reintegration of multimedia centers, within the wall of the regional offices of the MINUSTAH across the country, is part of a new philosophy of the mission, which seeks a more synergistic planning of activities with other sections of the MINUSTAH and a more efficient and timely response to the needs of different communities. It will also, to go beyond the physical space of multimedia centers, toward wider communities directly in the field and in the different municipalities of the department, particularly the remote communities, which were excluded of the benefits of our exchanges and of our proximity."

Patrick Mackintosh praised the close cooperation that has been developed between local authorities, stakeholders and other partners, with the Media Center during the five years and reiterated the willingness and the determination of Centres to continue to support and mentor the population and local authorities.

For his part, Jeffrey Clark Lochard, Public Information Officer and promoter of activities in the Multimedia Center of Jacmel, has compiled a good record of all activities of the Centre during this quinquennium within the community "90 organizations are accredited to the media center of the city, training sessions were organized for various target groups, including students, public institutions, grassroots organizations, journalists and others as part of organizational capacity and socio-professional."

Recalling that during these five years, his institution was able to provide a range of services to the community that a computer room, conference room, Internet access and a library and video library were made available to accredited organizations, Jeffrey Clark Lochard said he was aware that the relocation of the multimedia Center of Jacmel will do some harm to the population in terms of accessibility to its services. However, he promises, that the interaction between the MINUSTAH and its partners will be strengthened.

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In 2007, the Office of Public Information of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) launched a project, marked by the opening of nine multimedia centers across the country with nine departments of the country with base in the cities of : Port-de-Paix, Cap Haïtien, Fort-Liberté, Hinche and Gonaives in the far north and Jacmel, Miragoane, Les Cayes and Jérémie in the great South. In order to improve the communication strategy as part of mandate of the mission and closer the MINUSTAH of the Haitian community, CMMs have been the catalyst for a communication program dedicated to a constructive dialogue with target audiences.

HL/ Claudy Bélizaire