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