PM: NO REPLACEMENT IN SIGHT FOR HNP'S LUCIUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002227 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016 TAGS: PGOV KCRM SNAR HA SUBJECT: PM: NO REPLACEMENT IN SIGHT FOR HNP'S LUCIUS REF: PORT AU PRINCE 2207 Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson, reason 1.5(b). ¶1. (C) Bemoaning the poor state of Haitian institutions, most notably the police, Prime Minister Alexis told me Sunday that he is unable to name a replacement for Michael Lucius, Director of the HNP Judicial Police (DCPJ),who resigned November 15 because there is no one in Haiti who can handle the job. The Prime Minister said that he asked HNP DG Andresol to give him candidates to consider for the position. However, after almost a week, the DG has yet to come up with three experienced senior officers for the PM and his Committee of Public Security to chose from. Alexis has asked Andresol to personally take over the post in the interim. He added that he may now turn to a former senior HNP officer who fled Haiti during the Aristide era, if he is willing to return to Port au Prince from the US. No final decision has been made; however, and the PM would not share the name of the individual with me at this time. ¶2. (C) Alexis acknowledged that the Lucius crisis has been a difficult one for the government, caught as it was between the HNP and Judge Saintil. The PM said he was reluctant to take direct action against either party, because he and the president believed strongly that the matter was a personal issue, rather than a judicial concern. Nonetheless, the conflict had spiraled out of control and he decided that it was time to bring an end to the matter once and for all. As far as Alexis is concerned, he told me the matter is over and Lucius will remain with the HNP in a position commensurate with his experience and seniority. Alexis speculated that he might be made Andresol's Chief of Staff. ¶3. (C) Comment. The high road notwithstanding, Alexis is wrong about Lucius's resignation bringing this matter to a close. It remains a topic of discussion and debate around town, with editorials continuing to weigh in on both sides. Many Haitians are aware that DG Andresol staked his career on the outcome of the dispute. Those with whom we have talked believe that, despite his colleague's resignation, the HNP Director emerges from this episode in a stronger position than ever. Frankly, that may be overstating the case. The contretemps clearly angered President Preval, who told me that he couldn't believe that a sitting HNP officer would engage in a running public debate with a judge without being reined in by his boss. End Comment. SANDERSON