LOCAL public servants will be assisting in redeveloping the Haitian public sector that was left in chaos following the devastating January 12 earthquake.

The lack of any public service structure has stymied the implementation of millions of dollars in aid from Trinidad and Tobago and other countries.

Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz made the announcement on Thursday at the post-Cabinet press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.

He reported that roughly US$8 billion in foreign aid has been donated and, out of that figure, $2.5 billion for the public sector.

"Even with the aid that has gone into Haiti there have been major problems in the Haitian government accessing the aid," he said.

He noted only two of the public sector buildings survived the earthquake, government revenue in the country dropped by 80 per cent, 17 per cent of the Haitian public service perished in the earthquake, and salaries for public servants have not been paid since January this year.

"So that gives us a very graphic picture of what the Haitian capital is like."

He reported there were still many Haitians living in tents and warehouses are filled with goods and food that cannot be distributed. Cadiz said that one of the problems is the lack of institutional capacity as there was no functioning government in Haitians we know it in the Caribbean.

"If you have to get anything done in Haiti that is where the problem lies."

He noted that Caricom Special Adviser to Haiti, former Jamaican prime minister PJ Patterson, last week met with senior public servants during a series of meetings held in this country on reconstructing and assisting Haiti.

He noted the team included public servants from the permanent secretary level, either recently retired or those volunteering their time, and they are scheduled to begin in eight weeks.

He also reported that the approximately 60 Haitian students who will be coming to Trinidad to study at the University of the West Indies, another area of post-earthquake aid, are studying engineering, which would augur well for when they return to their country.