HAITI: A REACTIVE LEGISLATURE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001493

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: A REACTIVE LEGISLATURE


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1. (U) Summary. Haitian parliamentarians have worked within
a democratic framework, forming coalitions across party lines
to raise awareness to certain issues and negotiating with
non-governmental organizations to start projects in their
districts. Unfortunately, their agenda is largely driven by
the executive branch. To date, the legislature has not
crafted any new laws. If they are to play a larger role as
legislators, they will have to be pro-active and move away
from their current approach, reacting to the problem of the
day. End Summary.

The Tenets of Democracy
--------------

2. (U) Though political parties are weak, party discipline
unreliable, and many parliamentarians are new to national
politics, democratic trends within the parliament have taken
hold. Two large blocs emerged among the 18 political parties
during the negotiations to confirm Prime Minister Alexis and
approve his cabinet, and those blocs largely remained intact
to form the parliamentary committees and elect their
presidents. While political parties play the more important
role in forming parliamentary coalitions on most issues, on
some issues, regional or special interest coalitions exist.
According to FUSION Senator Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, Vice
President of the Senate, political party affiliation
generally guides the decisions of a legislator, while the
other coalitions are utilized as a lobbying unit on specific
issues. For example, the female senators belong to a
coalition and have agreed to press for women's rights or
highlight the condition of women in relevant legislation.


3. The legislators also recognize that they have to &bring
money back into their district8 to remain in their
positions. UNION Deputy Laurore Eduoard believes that
Haitian citizens do not understand the role of legislators.
"Parliamentarians are viewed as developing agents. If social
projects are not realized in your community, you are a
worthless parliamentarian." Thus, many parliamentarians
spend their time negotiating with non-governmental
organizations to start projects in their districts. They
have big dreams for each of their communities and the list of
projects to accomplish is long. In a series of meetings,
every parliamentarian had hopes to acquire an industrial
park, construct a road, build a school, or erect a hospital.
Unfortunately, these laundry lists have not translated into
concrete plans of action.

A Reactive Legislature
--------------

4. The Legislature has not yet taken a proactive role in
crafting legislation during this year's session. On August
9, Senator Beauzile told poloff that the Senate had not met
as a body to consider any legislation. According to
Beauzile, the Senate sent a letter to the Prime Minister at
the beginning of July asking for his governance plan as well
as legislative proposals. (Note: The Prime Minister is
expected to deliver his governance plan, accompanied by the
budget, mid-August. End Note.)


5. Beauzile agreed that the senate is waiting for the PM,s
response and that no independent legislative agenda had been
contemplated by the legislators. When asked about
constitutional amendments, she felt it was too early to know
what amendments would be proposed by parliamentarians. Yet,
she insisted that they take their role of balancing power
seriously. They have called on the ministers to present
their plans of action for curbing fiscal waste, squashing
gang violence, and improving cell-phone company
interconnectivity (a major issue in Haiti). And despite
their failure to focus on the legislative process, the Senate
passed a resolution on July 21 condemning MINUSTAH and on
August 1 unanimously forbid Senate President Lambert from
participating in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's visit.



6. The deputies have likewise formed their committees.
However, not all of them have formally met. Deputy Marie
Cluny Dumay of UNION said that the deputies face logistical
problems in creating an agenda and meeting. They lack
transportation to take them to and from Parliament and there

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are no offices or meeting rooms. Nonetheless, the committee
presidents meet weekly to maintain communication.


7. Comment: Though legislators have not been quick off the
mark, they are working within a democratic framework, forming
coalitions across party lines and pressing the Executive on
issues important to the constituency. However, the
legislators are largely reactionary, having not promulgated
any legislation on their own. If they are to play a larger
role as legislators, they will have to be pro-active and move
away from their current approach, responding only to the
problem of the day. End Comment.
SANDERSON