Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE971
2006-06-01 13:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
HAITI: FIRST PETROCARIBE SHIP STALLED AT VARREUX
how-toVZCZCXRO4642 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #0971 1521327 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011327Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3159 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1070 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0915 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0487 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
WHA/EPSC FOR FAITH CORNEILLE, ED MARTINEZ
EB/IFD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EAID HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: FIRST PETROCARIBE SHIP STALLED AT VARREUX
PORT
REF: A. PAP 846
B. PAP 891
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
WHA/EPSC FOR FAITH CORNEILLE, ED MARTINEZ
EB/IFD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EAID HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: FIRST PETROCARIBE SHIP STALLED AT VARREUX
PORT
REF: A. PAP 846
B. PAP 891
1. Shooting stalled the unloading and delivery of oil May 17
from the first PetroCaribe ship, which arrived in Haiti on
May 13 (reftel A). The ship was docked at Varreux, a port
located near one of Port-au-Prince's most violent slums, Cite
Soleil. The captain of the ship reported bullets flying over
the deck and stopped unloading the ship. According to
Minustah, gun shots were heard in nearby Cite Soleil but were
not directed toward the terminal. The port received no
incoming fire. Minustah considers the Captain's report
impossible given the distance of the shots fired. This
caused only a minor delay, of less than one day.
2. Chevron (operating as Texaco in Haiti) security officials
will be in Haiti June 1 to assess the situation and determine
whether the next tanker, due to arrive as early as June 2,
should offload at Varreux or not. Minustah's message to
Chevron is that Chevron should continue sending their tankers
to Varreux as nothing has changed in recent months. If
anything, the situation has improved since the Brazilians
replaced the Jordanian contingent in Cite Soleil. Chevron
officials told us they agree with this assessment but have
for some time been wary of the security of Varreux due to its
proximity to Cite Soleil and the possibility of stray gunfire.
3. Comment: This incident, and any others regarding
PetroCaribe since President Rene Preval signed the agreement
May 14, has received no attention from the media. Haitians
have noted, however, that electricity in Port-au-Prince has
improved since Preval's inauguration with 6 to 8 hours a day,
usually late at night until morning in residential areas.
SANDERSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
WHA/EPSC FOR FAITH CORNEILLE, ED MARTINEZ
EB/IFD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
TREASURY FOR JEFFERY LEVINE
COMMERCE FOR SCOTT SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON EAID HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: FIRST PETROCARIBE SHIP STALLED AT VARREUX
PORT
REF: A. PAP 846
B. PAP 891
1. Shooting stalled the unloading and delivery of oil May 17
from the first PetroCaribe ship, which arrived in Haiti on
May 13 (reftel A). The ship was docked at Varreux, a port
located near one of Port-au-Prince's most violent slums, Cite
Soleil. The captain of the ship reported bullets flying over
the deck and stopped unloading the ship. According to
Minustah, gun shots were heard in nearby Cite Soleil but were
not directed toward the terminal. The port received no
incoming fire. Minustah considers the Captain's report
impossible given the distance of the shots fired. This
caused only a minor delay, of less than one day.
2. Chevron (operating as Texaco in Haiti) security officials
will be in Haiti June 1 to assess the situation and determine
whether the next tanker, due to arrive as early as June 2,
should offload at Varreux or not. Minustah's message to
Chevron is that Chevron should continue sending their tankers
to Varreux as nothing has changed in recent months. If
anything, the situation has improved since the Brazilians
replaced the Jordanian contingent in Cite Soleil. Chevron
officials told us they agree with this assessment but have
for some time been wary of the security of Varreux due to its
proximity to Cite Soleil and the possibility of stray gunfire.
3. Comment: This incident, and any others regarding
PetroCaribe since President Rene Preval signed the agreement
May 14, has received no attention from the media. Haitians
have noted, however, that electricity in Port-au-Prince has
improved since Preval's inauguration with 6 to 8 hours a day,
usually late at night until morning in residential areas.
SANDERSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================