Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1643
2006-09-05 16:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
HAITI'S FISCAL GOAL: RAISE INTERNAL REVENUES BY 25
how-toVZCZCXRO1468 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #1643 2481641 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051641Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3953 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1208 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1050 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0570 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001643
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD
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: HAITI'S FISCAL GOAL: RAISE INTERNAL REVENUES BY 25
PERCENT
REF: PAP 1609
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001643
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD
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: HAITI'S FISCAL GOAL: RAISE INTERNAL REVENUES BY 25
PERCENT
REF: PAP 1609
1. Finance Minister Daniel Dorsainvil and Charge signed a
preliminary agreement September 1 to modernize Haiti's tax
collection and administration in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of Treasury, with funding from USAID. According
to Dorsainvil, it is time to "bring in the tax man," but he
stressed that it is also important for the government to use
the increased revenues wisely. According to the Robert
Joseph, deputy director of the Haitian internal revenue
service (Direction Generale des Impots -- DGI),the FY06
collection through August is 5.74 billion Haitian gourdes
(about US $ 147 million). The DGI projects internal revenue
of 7.39 billion (about US $189 million) Haitian gourdes for
FY07, which represents an increase of approximately 25
percent. The eighth DGI general assembly is in session this
week in Jeremie, on Haiti's western coast, to discuss
possible measures to increase internal revenue.
2. US DOT representative Charles Shea visited Haiti in June
to examine the viability of a tax assistance project. Shea
reports that ever since the initial conference in November
2004 where GOH officials came away with six objectives to
increase fiscal responsibility, he has been greatly impressed
with the seriousness with which the DGI has assumed their
responsibility. Robert Joseph told econoff September 1 that
he has been working on this project for two years and was
thrilled to see it become official. (Note: Shea reports that
Joseph is the driving force and continuity within the DGI.
He has worked there for more than 20 years and was one
candidate for director general two years ago. End note.)
3. Comment: Raising Haiti's revenues -- both internal
revenue and customs taxes -- is one of President Rene
Preval's primary concerns. Efforts to enforce customs on the
Haitian-DR border is still meeting mild resistance (reftel),
and portends the public's likely reception of increased
fiscal responsibility. However, Dorsainvil seems undaunted,
taking a "slowly but surely" approach.
TIGHE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
EB/IFD
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: HAITI'S FISCAL GOAL: RAISE INTERNAL REVENUES BY 25
PERCENT
REF: PAP 1609
1. Finance Minister Daniel Dorsainvil and Charge signed a
preliminary agreement September 1 to modernize Haiti's tax
collection and administration in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of Treasury, with funding from USAID. According
to Dorsainvil, it is time to "bring in the tax man," but he
stressed that it is also important for the government to use
the increased revenues wisely. According to the Robert
Joseph, deputy director of the Haitian internal revenue
service (Direction Generale des Impots -- DGI),the FY06
collection through August is 5.74 billion Haitian gourdes
(about US $ 147 million). The DGI projects internal revenue
of 7.39 billion (about US $189 million) Haitian gourdes for
FY07, which represents an increase of approximately 25
percent. The eighth DGI general assembly is in session this
week in Jeremie, on Haiti's western coast, to discuss
possible measures to increase internal revenue.
2. US DOT representative Charles Shea visited Haiti in June
to examine the viability of a tax assistance project. Shea
reports that ever since the initial conference in November
2004 where GOH officials came away with six objectives to
increase fiscal responsibility, he has been greatly impressed
with the seriousness with which the DGI has assumed their
responsibility. Robert Joseph told econoff September 1 that
he has been working on this project for two years and was
thrilled to see it become official. (Note: Shea reports that
Joseph is the driving force and continuity within the DGI.
He has worked there for more than 20 years and was one
candidate for director general two years ago. End note.)
3. Comment: Raising Haiti's revenues -- both internal
revenue and customs taxes -- is one of President Rene
Preval's primary concerns. Efforts to enforce customs on the
Haitian-DR border is still meeting mild resistance (reftel),
and portends the public's likely reception of increased
fiscal responsibility. However, Dorsainvil seems undaunted,
taking a "slowly but surely" approach.
TIGHE