SUB-CABINET SHAKEUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001690 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2011 TAGS: HA PGOV PINR SUBJECT: SUB-CABINET SHAKEUP REF: PAP 1667 PORT AU PR 00001690 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Thomas C. Tighe for reason 1.4(b) ¶1. (U) Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis on September 7 announced the replacement of 10 of 18 directors general (DGs) in cabinet ministries and four of nine DGs in government agencies. DGs are third in the bureaucratic hierarchy, serve as chief operating officers, and traditionally manage personnel (and thus patronage). The GoH also created two new state secretaries (junior minister) for agriculture and literacy. A list of the new officials follows with brief bio notes of the few with whom post are already acquainted. ¶2. (C) Begin list: STATE SECRETARIES -Carol Joseph, Secretary of State for Literacy (within the Ministry of Education) Joseph is a former MFA official, like Minister for Education Bien-Aimet, and was the director of the office for migration and charge d'affairs in Ottawa during the first Preval administration. Joseph has no previous experience in education. -Joanas Guay, Secretary of State for Agriculture (within the Ministry of Agriculture) Guay is an agronomist with long experience in the NGO community in development projects and has collaborated closely with USAID, who regard him highly. Guay worked for the Pan-American Development Foundation before his appointment. Guay is a close friend of Agriculture Minister Severin, who suffered a stroke three weeks ago and has not returned to the ministry. DIRECTORS GENERAL -Harry Voltaire, Director General, Ministry of Interior and Territorial Collectives Voltaire is a career civil servant and ministry employee who has closely collaborated with the Embassy in the past. We view him as honest and competent. -Dr. Gabriel Thimothee, Director General, Ministry of Public Health and Population. Thimotee, a ministry official, is an epidemiologist and immunologist who is an authority on tuberculosis and AIDS. -Sandro Joseph, Director General, National Insurance Office (Social Security Administration equivalent) Joseph was most recently a radio journalist with reported ties to a circle close to assassinated journalist Jean Dominique. -Joseph Leprince Augustin, Director General, Ministry for Haitians Living Abroad Augustin formerly worked for the National Insurance Office and was a strong supporter of former President Aristide. -Josue Pierre-Louis, Director General, Ministry of Justice and Public Security -Daniel Pierre-Charles, Director General, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action -Pierre-Michel Laguerre, Director General, Ministry of National Education and Professional Training -Piere-Andre Dunbar, Director General, Ministry of Commerce and Industry -Nixon Myrthil, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Relations -Alix Boyer, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs -Stephane Mallebranche, Director General, Ministry of Culture and Communication PORT AU PR 00001690 002.2 OF 002 -Serge Raphael, Director General, National Electricity Company (Electricitie d'Haiti, EDH) -Michel Presume, Director General, National Telephone Company (TELECO) -Jean-Jacques Valentin, Director General, Customs Administration Former Director of Customs, 1994-2004 (See Reftel). ¶3. (C) Comment: This sub-cabinet shakeup was one of the better kept secrets in Haiti. President Preval and the PM reportedly considered the personnel changes over the course of the last four weeks, asking ministers to present new candidates and consulting friends and advisors. Both the respective ministers and presidential advisor Gabriel Verret weighed in heavily in favor of keeping on the DGs for finance and planning. Verret rued in a conversation with Polcouns that Preval overruled his and fellow-advisor Robert Manuel's "adamant opposition" to Valentin's appointment at customs. Rumors about poor performance and possible firings of cabinet ministers have circulated, but there are no clear indications further changes are coming (with the exception of agriculture, where Minister Severin's medical condition is reported to be serious). Apart from reaction to Valentin, who per reftel stands out as an especially controversial choice, reaction to the changes has generally been muted. Political observers note that Preval removed much dead wood from the DG slots, but that their replacements are on the whole a mixed bag. Leading businessman Richard Coles related to Polcouns that on September 11 he told President Preval that "he could have done better." Preval responded that he did his best with the talent available. TIGHE