Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PORTAUPRINCE1351
2005-05-13 16:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

Consular Visit to Jacmel

Tags:  CASC HA ASEC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001351 

SIPDIS

FOR CA/OCS/WHA: RUTH BRANSON
ALSO FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC HA ASEC
SUBJECT: Consular Visit to Jacmel


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001351

SIPDIS

FOR CA/OCS/WHA: RUTH BRANSON
ALSO FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC HA ASEC
SUBJECT: Consular Visit to Jacmel



1. Summary. Jacmel, traditionally an arts center on
Haiti's southeastern coast, now welcomes increasing numbers
of Americans as residents or tourists. ConOff's May 9-10
visit to Jacmel found a city struggling with weak police and
medical services but with a well-connected American
community. End Summary.

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Tight-Knit Wardens
--------------


2. ConOff met with all four of the Jacmel region wardens.
It is apparent that the wardens know each other and the
Jacmel area well. One of the wardens, James Cadet, plays an
instrumental part in the revitalization of the Jacmel
tourist scene and possesses a number of useful contacts in
the Jacmel area. ConOff discussed with wardens the
challenges they face in maintaining contact with U.S.
citizens in Jacmel and updating their registration lists.
The wardens plan to divide the single Jacmel city zone into
three smaller sub-zones to make it easier for them to
contact U.S. citizens living there.


3. Several of the wardens reported an increasing number of
Americans living and visiting thee area. Mr. Cadet stated
that land values now surpass those of Petionville (an
exclusive suburb of Port-au-Prince) due to the influx of
Americans buying land. He went on to report that a festival
held on May 1 drew many American tourists and that the city
is planning many similar events in the future.

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A well-attended Town Hall Meeting
--------------


4. Twenty-four (24) U.S. citizens attended a town hall
meeting on Monday, May 9, 2005. ConOff described the work
done in the Consular Section and the ACS unit's capacity to
help U.S. citizens living in Haiti. ConOff stressed the
importance of registering with the ACS unit, resulting in
six new registrations. ConOff also accepted Social Security
applications from U.S. citizens afraid to travel to Port-au-
Prince and answered wide-ranging questions on visa
procedures, passport requirements, and services provided to
U.S. citizens in emergencies.

--------------
Police lacking bullets, radios, and tear gas
--------------


5. According to Fritz Gerald Marcel, Southern Departmental
Director of the Haitian National Police (HNP),and Alain
Auguste, Jacmel police chief, the police force in Jacmel
lacks sufficient equipment to perform its work. ConOff met
with the two Police officials on Monday, May 9. They stated

they were severely under-equipped with limited supplies of
bullets and weapons and no tear gas at their disposal. Mr.
Marcel, the departmental director, mentioned he lacked the
capacity to communicate quickly with police stations in
outlying areas due to a faulty radio system. Mr. Marcel
also reported that he had asked, to no avail, for more
police equipment six months ago. In spite of their limited
resources the two police officers described a very calm
security situation in Jacmel. They reported the HNP had a
nightly presence on the streets of Jacmel. Mr. Marcel
stated the most frequently reported crimes were sexual
assaults on minors and small-scale robberies with the total
absence of kidnappings.


6. ConOff toured the Jacmel Police Station and civil prison
on Tuesday, May 10 with Mr. Auguste. The police station is
clean and appears in good repair. The holding cells in the
police station did not appear to be crowded. The prison
cells have beds and the prison appears cleaner than prisons
in Port-au-Prince. Unfortunately, the infirmary and prison
toilets were destroyed during the events surrounding ex-
President Aristide's departure in February, 2004 and have
not yet been repaired. Justice moves as slowly in Jacmel as
it does in Port-au-Prince. There are 122 prisoners in the
prison of which only 17 have been formally convicted and
sentenced.

-------------- --
Dedicated doctors without life-saving equipment
-------------- --


7. The public hospital lacks life-saving equipment
according to its director, Dr. Edmond Pierre. ConOff met
with Dr. Pierre on May 9 and toured his hospital the
following day. Saint Michel Hospital is the only public
hospital in Jacmel. It is a 96-bed facility with 12
doctors. According to Dr. Pierre, the hospital has a team
of health care practitioners dedicated to responding to
sexual assaults. There is a doctor at the hospital at all
hours; however, the hospital lacks the normal life-saving
equipment one would find in an American emergency room.
Additionally, the hospital's one ambulance is frequently
employed for divers other purposes and is not available for
emergency use.

8. ConOff's tour of the hospital complex revealed a clean
facility without any noxious odors. There are private rooms
available for a supplemental charge. The hospital does have
a morgue, which, according to Dr. Pierre, is often the
victim of power outages.

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Jacmel needs continuing consular outreach
--------------


9. Comment. The American population in Jacmel is large and
continues to grow with the increasing possibility of
sustained tourism. The public officials ConOff met with
appeared dedicated to their jobs and eager to help Americans
in need in spite of their lack of resources. The U.S.
citizen wardens in Jacmel are well integrated into the
community and provide valuable services to U.S. citizens in
Jacmel. Unfortunately, with the increasing presence of U.S.
citizens in Jacmel, the opportunities for misfortune also
increase. The ACS unit will continue to build bridges to
contacts in Jacmel who can aid U.S. citizens who find
themselves in need there. End Comment.
Griffiths