PROPOSED HAITIAN CABINET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000999 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2011 TAGS: PGOV PINR HA SUBJECT: PROPOSED HAITIAN CABINET Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reason 1.4. (b). ¶1. (U) Haitian Prime Minister Jacques Eduoard Alexis presented his "general policy" (politique general) and introduced his proposed cabinet ministers to the national assembly today, June 6. As of this writing, Alexis is answering questions from each of the 27 senators. National assembly leadership had hoped to conclude approval of the new government by the end of the day, but will apparently have to let the session run well into the evening in order to hold the vote. ¶2. Proposed cabinet ministers are: Economic and Finance: Daniel DORSAINVIL -- Dorsainvil is an economist and close associate of President Preval. He is a former professor of economics at Georgetown University, a former employee of USAID, and most recently a World Bank consultant. Foreign Affairs: Jean Renald CLERISME -- According to Preval, a current employee of the WTO -- other sources have said Haitian Ambassador to the WTO -- who will return to Haiti to assume his post. Clerisme is former Catholic priest and original member of the Lavalas movement predating Aristide's entry into politics. Public Works: Frantz VERELLA A civil engineer, Verella held this post in the first Aristide government in 1981. Commerce and Industry: Magguy DURCE -- Unsuccessful Alyans candidate for a West Department senate seat, taking the allotted Alyans seat in the cabinet. Justice: Rene MAGLOIRE -- A sitting judge, reportedly honest and held in high regard across the political spectrum. Interim Minister D'Orleans told the Ambassador Magloire was a good choice, having worked on anti-corruption issues. Interior and Territorial Collectives: Paul Antoine BIEN-AIME --Former education minister during Preval's first administration. Public Health and Population: Dr. Robert AUGUSTE -- Currently secretary general of the Fusion political party and occupying the allotted Fusion seat, Auguste formerly led the social democratic Ayiti Kapab party prior to its merger into Fusion. Haitians Living Abroad: Jean GENEUS -- Former Consul in Boston and former Ambassador to Argentina. He also held this position in Preval's first administration and is a member of Fanmi Lavalas. Agriculture: Francois SEVRIN �A;-- Previously minister of agriculture under both Aristide and Preval. Planning and External Cooperation: Jean Max BELLERIVE -- Bellerive has held position senior positions in the office the Prime Minister almost without interruption beginning with the military junta that replaced the Duvalier regime. Served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Neptune and as senior advisor to Interim Prime Minister Latortue. A close associate of presidential candidate Marc Bazin, Bellerive presumably takes the slot reportedly demanded by Lavalas. Culture and Communications: Daniel ELIE -- An architect and former director of the National Institute to Preserve National Patrimony. Women's Affairs: Marie Laurence Jocelyn LASSEGUE -- Activist and current secretary general of women's organization Famn Yo La. She was information minister during Aristide's first administration. Tourism: Patrick DELATOUR -- An architect by training, and brother-in-law of Preval advisor Elizabeth Delatour. PORT AU PR 00000999 002 OF 002 Sports and Youth: Fritz BELIZAIRE --This position previously at sub-cabinet secretary of state level. Environment: Marie Claude GERMAIN -- Union party member, unnsuccessful senate candidate from the West Department. Education: Gabriel BIEN-AIME -- Formerly director of the religion directorate of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, OPL member filling the OPL cabinet slot. Parliamentary Affairs: Joseph JASMIN -- A former judge and member of Preval's transition team. Jasmin will head a new ministry. Social Affairs: Gerald GERMAIN -- Former minister of commerce and industry during the first Preval administration. Additionally, Luc Joseph EUCHERE is expected to be named as the sub-cabinet level secretary of state for public security. Euchere is a former PNH inspector general and close associate of Preval confidant Robert Manuel. ¶2. (C) Comment. As promised by Preval, the cabinet is made up primarily of "technocrats," with no particular political ties other than established relationships to Preval through earlier government's. Many Haitian observers judge the overall talent of the cabinet to be mixed at best. One leading businessman privately called it "mediocre," while an OPL senator commented publicly that the cabinet amounted to "re-heated soup." It appears that Preval limited his political concessions to single slots each for nominees from Fusion, OPL, Alyans, Union, and Lavalas. Preval reportedly insisted that the parties propose qualified professionals rather than the party leaders. Bellerive's appointment signals a notable compromise on both Preval's and Lavalas' part. Having served both Aristide and Preval administrations, many regard Bellerive as a Lavalas supporter, though he has avowed to Polcouns he was never a party member but simply a committed civil servant. Bellerive is, in fact, closest politically to Marc Bazin, Lavalas' unsuccessful presidential ally. Preval did ultimately meet with Lavalas senator Rudy Herivaux over the previous weekend to negotiate the compromise, after claiming previously he would not deal with Lavalas. ¶3. (C) Comment Continued. The cabinet is also notable for its absences. Preval's closest advisor, Robert Manuel, along with inner-circle members Fritz Longchamp, and Eric Pierre turned down ministerial appointments for a variety of personal reasons. Prominent business leaders Gladys Coupet and Maryse Kedar also turned the finance and social affairs ministries, respectively. In each case, Preval will continue to seek their counsel as formal members of his presidential staff or informal members of his kitchen cabinet. SANDERSON