Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTAUPRINCE1018
2007-06-08 17:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

ASSESSMENT OF DEPORTEE INTEGRATON PROGRAM

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM HA 
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VZCZCXRO0248
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1018/01 1591755
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081755Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6252
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1552
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1371
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0814
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1225
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001018 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
DHS FOR HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF DEPORTEE INTEGRATON PROGRAM


PORT AU PR 00001018 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001018

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
DHS FOR HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM HA
SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF DEPORTEE INTEGRATON PROGRAM


PORT AU PR 00001018 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary. Against the countervailing negative perceptions
that most Haitians and the GoH have against deportees, the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) has
convincingly established the foundations of a potentially
successful deportee integration program. IOM reported that
deportees are increasingly using the program because the GoH
has discontinued incarcerating them upon arrival and because
of their awareness that employers discriminate against them
in what is already a difficult labor market. The deportees
focus their efforts on the program's skills training and the
micro-enterprise components. Of the 523 deportees processed,
140 participate in the program, of which 100 are currently in
the skills training and micro-enterprise components. With
more participants, costs are increasing, which in turn
heightens IOM's urgency to secure additional funds for the
program. End summary.


2. Because IOM is on the tarmac to meet every deportee
flight, IOM has met 523 deportees, of which 140 (26.8%)
decided to register and continue with the program, which
gives them access to the program's five major services:
counseling, HIV/AIDS testing, drug rehabilitation, skills
training, and micro-enterprise support. IOM reported that no
deportee used the HIV/AIDS testing or drug rehabilitation
service; 100 are currently engaged in the skills training and
micro-enterprise services; and 40 are waiting to begin skills
and micro-enterprise training. Skills training focuses on
vocational and professional skills. In order to participate
in the micro-enterprise program, the deportees must
successfully complete the appropriate skills training. The
first class of 40 micro-enterprise participants drafted 12
business proposals, which received start-up financing in the
$200-$2,000 range, of which 70% is a grant and 30% is a loan.
The second class of 60 are currently engaged in
skills/micro-enterprise training. Counseling is available to
all regisered deportees as appropriate.


3. The greatestobstacles that IOM worked through were the

government's institutional incapacity to receive deportees
and its negative attitudes against them. Since the GoH did
not have a receiving mechanism for deportees, half of the
deportees on the first flight were able to run away from
''processing.'' The GoH's ensuing decision to incarcerate
the deportees upon arrival only served to discourage them
from participating in the program. The government ended the
policy because with the security crackdown in Port-au-Prince,
the GoH did not have space in an already overcrowded prison
system.


4. IOM also succeeded in convincing the GoH to approve a
sensitization campaign that started on May 24. To begin, IOM
is airing 30 second radio spots before sport broadcasts.
Next, IOM will produce a very short video encouraging
Haitians to have a more positive view of deportees.
Afterwards, IOM will produce and distribute flyers to
reinforce the video's message. IOM will follow-up with a
workshop for government institutions and NGOs. Moreover, GoH
officials have agreed to do newspaper interviews encouraging
Haitians to be more positive about all involuntarily
repatriated citizens.


5. UNDP, through reprogramming made possible by USAID's
funding two of UNDP's projects, provided $1 million in
initial funding for the program. Since the program has
guaranteed funding only until the end of June, IOM and UNDP
have reached an accord in principle regarding further
reprogramming. If the reprogramming negotiations are
successful, UNDP may be able to support the program until
December 2007. The program's funding priorities in
descending order are: to cover staffing costs from August
2007 through December 2007; to cover the continuing costs of
the sensitization campaign and skills training component; and
to cover the costs of the entire program from January 2008
through March 2008. IOM communicated that UNDP plans to
approach USAID for funds specifically to finance the program,
or for funds that would allow for UNDP reprogramming.


6. Comment. The IOM program has been successful in getting

PORT AU PR 00001018 002.2 OF 002


the GoH to accept that it must receive deportees in a humane,
orderly manner and that it must support efforts to counter
negative public opinion of deportees. The program is also
the primary element of our effort to engage the GoH on
deportees while standing firm in insisting that the GoH meet
its obligations in accepting them. From this perspective,
post believes that IOM's deportee program warrants continued,
if not direct USG, financial support. However, before such
support is offered, the USG should request that IOM provide a
monthly or quarterly financial accounting of the program.
Guy Alexandre and Fritz Dorziair, who run the program,
indicated that Maureen Achieng, IOM's Chief of Mission, would
be willing to provide detailed financial information upon
request.
SANDERSON