Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1417
2006-08-04 13:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

IMPASSE AT MALPASSE: HAITIAN-DR BORDER STRIKE

Tags:  ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0840
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1417/01 2161349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041349Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3700
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1166
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1008
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0543
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001417 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD; EB/BTA
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: IMPASSE AT MALPASSE: HAITIAN-DR BORDER STRIKE
PERSISTS

PORT AU PR 00001417 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001417

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD; EB/BTA
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV PINS HA
SUBJECT: IMPASSE AT MALPASSE: HAITIAN-DR BORDER STRIKE
PERSISTS

PORT AU PR 00001417 001.2 OF 002



1. This message is sensitive but unclassified: please
protect accordingly


2. (SBU) Summary: A transport workers' strike has disrupted
commercial traffic and general transit at the
Haitian-Dominican border crossing at Malpasse since July 10.
Most recently, the workers perpetrated violence on the
Haitian side, including burning tires and setting up road
blocks made out of tree trunks, which appears to be aimed at
stopping all commercial traffic from crossing the border. It
is having that effect. The Association of Informal Sector
Merchants made a public statement July 31 that the border
strike is having a disastrous impact on commercial activities
in Haiti. The transport workers claim that the new customs
director for Malpasse, Jeantal Clervil, is charging an
unacceptable sur-tax and are calling for Clervil's
resignation. In fact, during the six months at the border
prior to the strike, Clervil simply started enforcing the
proper tax. Director General of Customs Edouard Vales
Jean-Laurent told econoff August 1 that his job is to tax
goods crossing the border. He said by appointing Clervil, he
has taken steps to stop contraband and that he and his staff
will continue to do their jobs, despite the strike. End
summary.


3. (U) Malpasse is located between Fonds-Parisien on the
Haitian side and Jimani on the Dominican side. It is the
most direct route from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. The
border remains officially open, however, Haitian immigration
officials have reportedly left their posts. Only a small
number of local police remain in the area. Ground transit
has decreased greatly but has not been halted. Passenger
flights between the two countries have increased as a
consequence.


4. (SBU) The transport workers claim that customs director
for Malpasse Jeantal Clervil is charging an unacceptable
sur-tax and are calling for Clervil's resignation. Clervil

denies the accusations, blaming the strikers for harming the
Haitian economy. The Director General of Customs, Edouard
Vales Jean-Laurent, whom the Preval government retained,
appointed Clervil in December. Since Clervil has assumed his
post at Malpasse, customs revenues have risen by 400 to 500
percent, because he is enforcing, and handing over to the
state, import taxes. Before Clervil's appointment, the
Malpasse border revenue averaged ten to fifteen million
Haitian gourdes (about USD 250 to 380) per month. The
revenue reports for June, the most recent month before the
strike, show Malpasse customs revenue at about Haitian
gourdes 60 million (USD 1550) in revenue. (Note: The Customs
DG and post's political assistant report Clervil to be an
honest and reliable employee. He has worked with customs for
years and prior to this appointment worked in the customs'
surveillance unit to watch over corruption and contraband.
He has participated in several U.S.-sponsored training
programs. End note.)


5. (SBU) Laurent told econoff August 1 that his job is to
tax goods crossing the border and that he has taken steps to
stop contraband from crossing through Malpasse. He said that
before the importers paid "whatever they wanted" to customs
officials, but now they are being forced to pay the
appropriate tax. He said that Clervil, along with two other
customs' employees, goes to work every day without hassle
from the transport workers, despite the strikers' call for
his resignation. Laurent stressed that he and Clervil will
continue to do their jobs, and that at this point, there is
no change in policy. He also said that there is no increase
in security planned for Malpasse.


6. (U) The border disruption is having a grave effect on
certain sectors in Haiti. The local press reported two
deaths due to lack of medication that is generally delivered
from the Dominican Republic. The Association of Informal
Sector Merchants made a public statement July 31 that the

PORT AU PR 00001417 002.2 OF 002


border strike is having a disastrous impact on commercial
activities. The press reported August 3 that government
revenue suffered a loss of Haitian gourdes 125 million; post
suspects the number to be closer to Haitian gourdes 50
million based on the DG's estimate of monthly revenues.
(Note: Many commercial goods are smuggled across the border
from the Dominican Republic and sold in both informal and
formal markets in Haiti. End note.)


7. (SBU) Comment: What the media is calling a transport
workers' strike is widely understood by Haitians to be a
smugglers' strike, though a segment of the local population
also broadly benefits from lax customs controls and
presumably supports the transport workers. Prior to the
strike, econoff discussed regulating customs procedures at
the border and in the ports in various discussions with GOH
officials, and they unanimously expressed concern over the
potential for a violent reaction by local populations: their
concerns have been borne out.


8. (SBU) Comment continued: The GOH and Haitian elites are
more concerned for the moment with the problem of gang
violence and the renewed surge in kidnapping in
Port-au-Prince. However, the disorder at Malpasse reflects
the serious challenges the GOH faces in strengthening its
institutional presence: resistance by extra-legal and
criminal actors to government attempts to establish basic
governmental functions throughout the country.
SANDERSON