SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKER WINS SENATE PRESIDENCY

S E C R E T PORT AU PRINCE 000847

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2010
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KDEM KCRM ASEC HA
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKER WINS SENATE PRESIDENCY

REF: PAUP 828

Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4(b).


1. (S) Haiti's senators (reftel) on May 11 elected Joseph
Lambert senate president. Lambert, who represents
President-elect Peval's L'Espwa party from the Southeast
Department, is a native of the departmental capital Jacmel
and widely rumored to be a leading narco-trafficker in the
region. Lambert is a known associate of Jean-Marie Fourel
Celestin, who was former head of palace security under
Aristide and is currently serving a drug sentence in Miami.
Political contacts in Jacmel told poloff in January that
Lambert and L'Espwa deputy candidate Patrick Dumond, who also
won election to parliament, were two of the best-known
narco-traffickers in the city, distributing money for favors
and engaging in vote buying. Lambert served as deputy from
Jacmel in the early 1990's. SIMO and DEA Port-au-Prince
report that information on file reflects that he is suspected
of association with known drug traffickers in Jacmel.


2. (C) Presidential advisors Alix Fils-Aime and Robert
Manuel told Polcouns on May 10 that they were unhappy with
the prospect of Lambert's election but that Preval could not
directly interfere in senate affairs. Fils-Aime told poloff
in a conversation on the evening of May 11 that the Preval
team was "deeply disappointed" with the choice of Lambert,
but stressed that Preval would insist on probity in his
dealings with the parliament. Fils-Aime signalled that he
was personally distressed that Preval had not done more to
intervene in the selection of the senate president. Interim
Prime Minister Latortue also expressed concern in a
conversation with the Ambassador on the evening of May 11 but
said that Haiti would have to go through democratic growing
pains -- and this might be one of them, unfortunately.


3. (C) The Senators also elected Pierre-Louis Jean-Joseph
(OPL-Grande-Anse) to the number two "questeur" (management
and finance) position and Evelyne Cheron (Lavalas- West) to
the third ranking vice-presidency. Deputies elected Pierre
Erice Jean-Jacques (Lavalas-West) chamber of deputies
president and Maxeau Balthazar (Fusion-Southeast) questeur.
Haitian contacts report that Jean-Jacques, who owns a
"clarin" (low quality rum) factory in the lower Delmas area
of Port-au-Prince, is also suspected of irregular business
dealings.


3. (C) Comment. It appears that Lambert has some measure of
political talent, having successfully canvassed within his
own party and other senators. The Southeast branch of
L'Espwa has always been cited as the best financed, and no
doubt ambitious L'Espwa leaders spread some of their money
around to help their fellow party members in the second
round, especially after Aristide declined to campaign on
behalf of individuals, and reportedly also assisted some
candidates from other parties. Rumors already abound
regarding outright vote buying by Lambert: several senate
candidates complained publicly and privately before the
elections that senators from the department would not have
the financial means to carry out their duties. Preval had
taken pains to distance himself from individual L'Espwa
members with whom he is no direct relationship -- Preval's
personal favorite from Jacmel, Frantz Large, did not win a
senate sea -- but he will doubtless need to deal with the
senate leader from his own party. At the very least,
Lambert's election will complicate efforts to enhance the
stature of the parliament.
SANDERSON