CANCÚN, Mexico. - President Leonel Fernandez called on the international community to implement an integral, long term plan for Haiti’s economic and social, sustainable development, not only to help it recover from the January 12 quake, but  its historical poverty.

Interviewed by the network Telesur upon his arrival in the resort region, the Dominican chief executive said it’s "shameful" that a tragedy of such magnitude had to occur to go in the aid of 10 million Haitians, of which 80 percent lives in poverty and the rest 20 percent below that.

Fernandez said the world community has a debt with Haiti that needs to be paid, because that nation hasn’t been politically recognized in more than 200 years, lived long periods of oppression, dictatorships and a process of impoverishment. “I believe that if there’s will at the international level it can be accomplished. If they’ve found trillions of dollars to save the banks why can’t they find two billion per year to save 10 million human beings who deserve better lot and a better destiny."

He said they are working together with the Haitian authorities in some proposals the allocation of a percentage, citing the payment of the external debt to the Club of Paris by Latin American and Caribbean countries, to finance a recovery project in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.

Fernandez said in that manner would be created what would be called the Haiti Solidarity Fund, to finance concrete programs and initiatives in infrastructure, water, highways, electricity, housing construction, schools and universities.