GOVERNOR BUSH'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PREVAL

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000901 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: GOVERNOR BUSH'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PREVAL REF: PAUP 854 ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified -- protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) President-elect Rene Preval met with Florida Governor Jeb Bush, head of the official U.S. delegation including the Ambassador and Florida State Secretary for Health Dr. Rony Francois, on the morning of his May 14 inauguration (reftel). Preval passed on his best wishes to President Bush, repeated that his administration's priorities would be enhancing public institutions and promoting private investment, and stressed the importance of the Haitian diaspora, particularly in Florida. Roughly 4 million Haitians live abroad (compared to 8 million in Haiti) and account for 25% of Haiti's GDP through remittances. Haitians are also coming into positions of influence in their adopted countries -- Michele Jean, the Haitian born governor general of Canada who attended the inauguration is a great example. Haiti should benefit from the influence of the success of the diaspora, and his administration would focus on reviewing the status of dual nationals, restoring their rights and allowing them to contribute to Haiti's development. At the very least, Haiti need to generate more tourism from the diaspora. In reply to Governor Bush's query on how he could assist the Preval administration, Preval asked for support for the pending HOPE legislation in the U.S. Congress that would establish preferential treatment of Haitian textile exports. ¶3. (SBU) Governor Bush passed on President Bush's congratulations on President Preval's inauguration and his appreciation for Preval's visit to the White House in March. Governor Bush noted that he had personally benefited from the success of Haitian immigrants in Florida in gaining the services of Haitian-born Dr. Francois and that Haitian-Americans were increasingly active in Florida politics and civic affairs. He believed a Haitian-American would soon win election to the U.S. Congress. Governor Bush had also created an advisory committee for Haitian issues: their recommendations included concentrating on cruise ship visits to increase tourism to Haiti and promoting Haitian products to the Haitian community in Florida. Governor Bush had also suggested that Haitian customs' revenues be collected from shippers in Florida at the port of embarkation. Preval expressed interest exploring that proposal. ¶4. (U) Governor Bush asked Dr. Francois for his perspective on relations with Haiti. Dr. Francois hoped to see an intensification of contact between the Haitian community in Florida and their native country. He also hoped to promote formal exchange programs, especially at the university level. ¶5. (U) Governor Bush did not clear this message prior to his departure. SANDERSON