On April 16, Minister of Trade and Industry Wilson Laleau, was inaugurated as the new Minister of Economy and Finance after the former Minister Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie has presented her resignation letter a week earlier.

Laleau has been the Minister of Trade and Industry since November 2011, and now he continues to hold this position as Interim. Wilson Laleau has an academic background and has served as the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at the Université d’Etat d’Haiti.

Laleau is an economist specializing in development economics and economic policy. He has worked as a consultant for major international institutions in Haiti and the Government.

During his inauguration event, Laleau stated that his actions will be directed towards the improvement of the budgetary efficiency, improvement of fiscal policies and the improvement of the quality of government spending.

In addition, Minister Laleau promised to set up a public procurement committee, and to promote access to credit in order to strengthen SMEs and facilitate the creation of jobs.

The resignation of former Minister of Economy and Finance Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie was unexpected. According to Haiti Libré, in her letter of resignation addressed to Prime Minister Lamothe on April 9th, the "Iron Lady" as she was called, based her decision on lack of internal support for the major reforms she has initiated.

"I can only note that I no longer have the support expected on all of these points. I can fight against adversity and against external hazards that hit with regularity our country, but not against the lack of solidarity with my own peers," excerpted from her letter.

On the other hand Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe stated that Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie has been an effective collaborator.