TUC urged to back debt cancellation

Louise Nousratpour in Manchester
Tuesday September 14, 2010
The Morning Star

TUC Congress: TUC affiliates have been urged to join campaigns for Haiti's national debt to be cancelled following the disastrous earthquake in January which killed more than 200,000 people.

The country is struggling with 1.3 million people still homeless and hundreds of thousands of children left orphaned as authorities attempt to slow the spread of disease without a proper health structure and amid a collapsed infrastructure.

Presenting a motion from the black workers conference Micky Nicholas called on delegates to support a Jubilee Campaign demand for Haiti's debts to be cancelled.

He added: "I hope affiliated unions encourage branches to continue to send aid to Haiti. They need to know that we stand in solidarity with them."

Unite delegate Alexis Chase argued that if the country had had the resources for better infrastructure and a properly funded health service the disaster would not have killed so many.

She added: "We should look to countries like Cuba and Venezuela who were the first to arrive in Haiti after the disaster and are doing a good job in flood-stricken Pakistan."

In a separate motion, TUC delegates reaffirmed their support for the people of Vietnam and their "incredible" achievements in rebuilding their country after defeating the US 35 years ago.