Haitian President Michel Martelly yesterday suggested that a portion of the substantial sums of money the Bahamas government spends on fighting illegal immigration should be invested in Haiti to address the problem from that end.

"The other day, I was talking to the prime minister [Perry Christie] and I heard him say he was investing about $200 million to protect the Bahamian coast to stop the boat people," said Martelly during a meeting with Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Hubert Chipman in the Minority Room in the House of Assembly.

"...But that idea came to me, and I told him, 'Why don't we invest some of that money, or at least bring in some Bahamian investors, down to the north of Haiti where these people live who come here?'"

Martelly, who was in town to sign several investment and agriculture agreements with the government, said it is in the interests of Haiti and The Bahamas that things go well in Haiti.

"The people that come here, they don't come here because they don't love their country," he said. "They come here because they want a better life. "So if we can bring the better life to them by getting investors to go to Haiti to invest in bananas, in mango, in corn, in rice and in vegetables...that would be good enough."

Martelly said, in turn, Bahamian retailers can buy the fruits and vegetables from Haitian farmers. One of the agreements signed yesterday will allow Haiti to export fresh fruits to The Bahamas.

The other agreements relate to the promotion and protection of investments and increased cooperation between both countries.

Martelly also shared his views on Bahamian investment with government officials after the agreements were signed at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort. "Sometimes investing to protect just your country is not sufficient, because that doesn't stop Haitians from fleeing," Martelly told reporters and government officials.

"That doesn't stop Haitians from dying, and as leaders we have a common interest in strengthening the region." Martelly said he is seeking the assistance of the Bahamas government in getting more investors to the northern side of Haiti, where most of the migrants leave from.

Thousands of Haitians are deported from The Bahamas every year. The most recent migration statistics show that there are between 20,000 and 50,000 undocumented Haitians living in The Bahamas, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said this week. Martelly also acknowledged that many people lose their lives trying to get to The Bahamas.

He said he hopes the economy will improve in his country so that Haitians remain home instead of risking their lives to leave.

"Every time a Haitian dies trying to get a better life, at the state level we feel that we are responsible for not doing enough," Martelly said. "And yet we are doing a lot."

He acknowledged though that his administration has "failed to find the right formula" to stop Haitians from fleeing. Martelly said the government has been focused on rehabilitating the Haitian economy and providing housing for people after that 2010 earthquake that left over 200,000 people dead. He said 1.5 million people were living in tents following the earthquake.

Martelly said the number has now been reduced to about 140,000. Minnis and Chipman agreed that it is a good idea to invest in Haiti.

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