MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PREVAL: VIEWS FROM THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000782

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT, PRM NIRIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM SMIG EAID HA BF
SUBJECT: MIGRATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PREVAL: VIEWS FROM THE
HAITIAN AMBASSADOR

REF: NASSAU 657

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs D. Brent Hardt for Reasons 1.4(b) and (
d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Haitian Ambassador to The Bahamas, Louis
Joseph, met with Poloff May 11 to discuss Haitian migration
and the urgent need to create jobs in Haiti. Joseph rebuffed
recent media reports of impending violence by the Haitian
immigrant community on Abaco Island, Bahamas, but registered
his concern regarding the Bahamian government's treatment of
Haitians. Joseph said he was unable to press the Bahamian
government on human rights abuses due to the Bahamas' vocal
support for Haiti's return to CARICOM. Instead, Joseph
pinned his hopes of easing Haitian migration problems in The
Bahamas on the new jobs in Haiti, suggesting a regional forum
to discuss migration and development. Joseph said foreign
factories provided the best opportunity to take advantage of
Haiti's main natural resource -- an abundant supply of cheap
labor -- and rebuild Haiti's economy. Unless jobs
materialize in six-to-twelve months, he said, destabilizing
elements in Haiti could undermine Preval's presidency.
Recognizing the need for political stability to attract
foreign investment, he hoped foreign governments would take
decisive action to support immediate job growth in Haiti,
noting the importance of pending U.S. HOPE legislation
regarding trade preferences and economic reconstruction. To
build international support and speed Haiti's reentry into
CARICOM, President Preval tentatively plans to visit Nassau
in the coming months. END SUMMARY.

Increased Tensions, But No Violence, In Haitian Communities
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Following the arrest and detention of hundreds of
legal Haitian residents in April (reftel) and the alleged
beating of a Haitian migrant at the Carmichael Road Detention
Immigrant Detention Center (CRIDC) on May 2, local media
reported that tensions in Abaco Island's Haitian communities,
the Mud and Pigeon Pea, could soon erupt in violence.


3. (U) On May 11, Poloff met with Louis Joseph, Haitian
Ambassador to The Bahamas, to discuss these concerns and
Haitian migration in general. Joseph denied press reports of
impending violence in Haitian communities. He said the
Haitian community is "deeply concerned about recent events,
but the matter is under control." While levels of anger and
frustrations have increased, he maintained that "emotions are
being capably managed and there is no increased risk of
violence." NOTE: Poloff confirmed Joseph's report with
influential Haitian Pastor Meme, a trusted source in the Mud
and Pigeon Pea. END NOTE.


4. (C) Joseph did not believe the underlying problem,
discrimination against persons of Haitian origin, is being
appropriately addressed. On May 8, he delivered a diplomatic
note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing his
concerns regarding the arrests of legal Haitians and the
conditions at CRIDC, but said he was unable to press the
issue too hard for fear of losing the Bahamas' vocal support
for Haiti's return to CARICOM. As such, Joseph thanked Post
for its attention to Haitian human rights issues and
requested our continued assistance.

Jobs in Haiti Key to Migration Problem
--------------


5. (C) More broadly, Joseph suggested a regional migration
summit to emphasize that the problems faced by the Dominican
Republic, The Bahamas, the U.S. and others are multilateral
issues with common causes and solutions. Specifically, he
hoped regional dialogue on migration would include
recognition that cooperative foreign assistance in the
economic development of Haiti was the best solution to the
problem of Haitian migration.


6. (C) Joseph said establishment of factories in Haiti
offered the strongest hope for Haitian jobs, the rebuilding
of Haiti's economy and curbing illegal immigration. Haiti's
main national resource -- an abundant supply of cheap labor
-- would be an asset to foreign factory owners, particularly
in the manufacturing and garment industries. Joseph noted

the proximity of Haiti to key markets in North and South
America currently relying on cheap labor in Asia, calling the
current underdevelopment of Haiti an opportunity to reduce
costs and curb Chinese factory dominance.

U.S. Support of Preval Key to Jobs in Haiti
--------------


7. (C) However, Joseph recognized foreign business reluctance
to return to Haiti until Preval demonstrates an ability to
maintain security and stability for foreign investment.
Calling the issue "a chicken and egg" dilemma, Joseph
emphasized the importance of the international community,
including especially CARICOM and the United States, in
helping bring business to Haiti. Joseph specifically
mentioned the vital importance of HOPE legislation pending
before Congress in rebuilding Haiti's economy.


8. (C) Citing unnamed Haitian sources, Joseph reported that
those in Haiti pressing for the return of Aristide are
positioning themselves to negotiate with Preval for positions
of power. He said Preval's ability to provide jobs,
particularly in the next six-to-twelve months, would give him
sufficient popular support to thwart these persons and others
seeking to destabilize Haiti for their own ends.


9. (C) Joseph said Preval tentatively plans a trip to Nassau
in the coming months to increase Haitian involvement in
multilateral fora and build regional support for Haitian
redevelopment. Joseph expects Preval to focus primarily on
Haiti's return to CARICOM rather than migration or human
rights issues.


10. (C) COMMENT: Discrimination against Haitians, and
Bahamians of Haitian origin, remains a serious problem in The
Bahamas. Increased tensions in the Haitian community, the
Bahamian Government's new "get tough" policy on immigration
(reftel),and the Haitian embassy's caution in pressing human
rights issues create a potentially volatile mixture. While
the situation remains calm at the moment, further aggressive
action against Haitians in the run-up to elections could lead
to violent outburst. Ambassador Joseph's formal complaint
against recent actions makes clear there are limits to the
Haitian tolerance of what is seen as discriminatory or
heavy-handed action. END COMMENT.
HARDT