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