Haitian lawmakers approve new cabinet

Haitian lawmakers early today approved the new prime minister's cabinet following a 19-hour session, despite criticism over the sparse details on how to pay for his government programme.
Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, named a month ago by President Jovenel Moise, answered questions from members of parliament overnight yesterday to today before obtaining support from 95 lawmakers. There were six 'no' votes and two abstentions.
Last week the Senate approved the new government program after 16 hours of debate.
Lafontant has vowed to fund his government plan -- which includes new roads, schools and hospitals -- by battling corruption, broadening the tax base and cutting back on unneeded expenditures.

Haiti is struggling to emerge from a major cholera outbreak, with an estimated 30,000 cases expected this year, and is still suffering from the effects of the January 2010 earthquake, with tens of thousands of people still camping in tents without proper sanitation.
The government is also dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, which caused USD 2.8 billion in damage and left more than 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance when it struck in October 2016.