Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE999
2006-06-06 18:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

PROPOSED HAITIAN CABINET

Tags:  PGOV PINR HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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).

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
-- 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