Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTAUPRINCE1880
2007-11-29 19:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR VISITS LES CAYES

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM MOPS EAID ECON SNAR SOCI HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9484
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1880/01 3331947
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291947Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7280
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1707
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1521
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0944
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1356
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT AU PRINCE 001880 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
DEPT PASS DEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MOPS EAID ECON SNAR SOCI HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS LES CAYES

REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1753

PORT AU PR 00001880 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT AU PRINCE 001880

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS
DEPT PASS DEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MOPS EAID ECON SNAR SOCI HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VISITS LES CAYES

REF: PORT AU PRINCE 1753

PORT AU PR 00001880 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


1. (U) Summary: Ambassador traveled November 14 and 15 to
the South Department's capital city, Les Cayes, accompanied
by DepDir USAID and Emboffs. Haiti's ''southern claw'' is
still recovering from flooding caused by Tropical Storm Noel
and its aftermath. Les Cayes thus far has been spared
significant security threats and violence, but like the rest
of the country faces gaping deficits in infrastructure,
economic opportunity, health care and education. It is
struggling to cope with continuing rural-to-urban migration.
Discontent over lack of basic services occasionally erupts in
public protest. In addition to these problems that plague
most of Haiti, this region faces deeply entrenched drug
trafficking networks that have infiltrated local police ranks
and defied MINUSTAH efforts to uproot them. The MINUSTAH
battalion based in Les Cayes focuses on combating drug
trafficking and assisting with civil affairs and humanitarian
projects. The newly elected mayor of Les Cayes laments the
city's poor infrastructure and the local government's
inability to properly fulfill its role due to lack of
resources. USAID projects in micro-finance, education,
HIV/AIDS and small infrastructure are bringing visible
improvements to the region, the effects of which Emboffs
witnessed at the individual level. End summary.

MINUSTAH Emphasizes Drug Trafficking Problem
--------------


2. (C) Les Cayes serves as the base for one of MINUSTAH's
two Uruguayan battalions (URUBAT I). URUBAT I Commander
Colonel Angel Cedres reported that the situation in the south

is ''mostly calm'' but over the last month small groups have
publicly protested and sabotaged roadways. Capabilities of
the local Haitian National Police (HNP) force are low, and it
is considered highly corrupt. (Note: One HNP officer noted
to Ambassador that some officers in his own organization are
aiding drug traffickers. End note.) The HNP is grossly
understaffed, with 243 officers and 26 specially trained riot
police for the entire South Department. Local prisons are
severely overcrowded and in poor condition, as are government
buildings. The justice system is dysfunctional, with only 19
percent of those arrested reaching trial. Colonel Cedras
said GOH institutions - including the justice, health care,
security and education sectors - are empty shells, making it
difficult to provide stability.


3. (C) Narco-trafficking is the south's biggest problem,
particularly around the town of St. Louis du Sud, according
to Colonel Cedres. He had recently requested permission from
MINUSTAH Force Commander General Dos Santos Cruz to destroy
several clandestine landing strips, but as of November 14 had
not yet received authorization. Colonel Cedras noted that
although his troops are making every effort to combat illegal
trafficking, the drug runners often receive tips that
MINUSTAH is en route and quickly disappear. He specifically
mentioned that the presence of Guy Philippe's family in Les
Cayes posed difficulties for URUBAT I, and that Philippe's
local popularity makes it difficult to develop information on
his whereabouts. Ambassador assured Cedras that the USG
shares his concerns about narco-trafficking and is working
closely with the GOH to combat this problem. She also noted
the Embassy is discussing possible methods of coordination
with MINUSTAH headquarters in Port-au-Prince.


4. (U) URUBAT I also assists in implementation of MINUSTAH
quick impact projects (QIPs),in large part providing
humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of hurricanes and
floods. MINUSTAH records cite 3951 evacuees from the most
recent flooding (reftel),to whom they provided medical
assistance, food and transportation. Colonel Cedras said
MINUSTAH tries to involve local authorities in the process,
but their attempts often fail because of lack of interest or
response from those officials.

New Mayor Lacks Resources

PORT AU PR 00001880 002.2 OF 003


--------------


5. (U) Les Cayes Mayor Yvon Chery and his two deputy mayors,
Jean Mariot Altenor and Mona Hector Herve, met November 14
with Ambassador in the Mayor's office. (Note: The
three-member cartel from the ''Union'' party won a run-off
election in April.End Note.) Echoing MINUSTAH, Chery said
Les Cayes is one of the safest areas in Haiti and has no
major security problems, even though the local HNP has few
resources and patrols infrequently. He claimed drug
trafficking is no longer a problem in Les Cayes now that
MINUSTAH patrols regularly. Chery said the most pressing
needs are a bus station, a new market to get merchants off
the streets and into a legitimate venue, and rehabilitation
of tourist beaches damaged in recent storms. (Note: Les Cayes
serves as a transit point for visitors to several popular
tourist resorts, including Ile-a-Vache and Port Salut. End
note.) He admitted there have been some public protests
lately and explained that this is the citizens' way of
pressuring state authorities to provide more electricity and
other services. Normally elections are the only source of
social friction, according to the mayor. The construction
industry is the largest employer in the city, followed by
commerce and light industry. Unemployment nevertheless
remains very high.


6. (U) The city is vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding,
and the population of 149,000 is growing rapidly as people
move to the city from the surrounding countryside. According
to Deputy Mayor Herve, recent floods damaged roads and
houses, affecting approximately 20,000 families.
Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Ministry
of Foreign Affairs visited Les Cayes following Tropical Storm
Noel to assess the damage. Though he claimed a close
relationship with the Ministry of Interior, Chery lamented
the very limited means made available to local governments.
The mayor repeatedly thanked the Ambassador for the work of
the International Organization for Migration (IOM),one of
USAID's implementing partners, especially in Les Cayes' less
favorable neighborhoods.

USAID Projects Making an Impact
--------------


7. (U) Ambassador had an opportunity to witness several
USAID projects in action. FINCA Haiti (Foundation for
International Community Assistance) provides small loans to
entrepreneurs through its ''village banking'' model. FINCA
Haiti has over 13,000 active clients, 98 percent of which are
women. Ambassador spoke with several satisfied clients who
said the loan had revolutionized their businesses, including
a group of women who established a string of successful
beachfront cafes. At ''Pwoje Espwa'' (Project Hope),an
orphanage for over 600 children, Ambassador was treated to a
cultural performance by the children, who all attend school
and receive three meals a day, in part through PL 480
commodities supplied through USAID's partner Catholic Relief
Services (CRS). At Lycee Philippe Guerrier, IOM recently
renovated several classrooms, replaced the roof and upgraded
the electrical system. The school has over 2300 students
from some of the poorest families in Les Cayes and is one of
the oldest public high schools in Haiti. The local IOM
representative reported great success involving locals in
such rehabilitation projects, with citizens truly investing
themselves in the improvement of their own communities.


8. (U) Ambassador also inaugurated the ''People Living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Transit House'' in Les Cayes. The Transit
House provides short-term housing for individuals in the Les
Cayes region who have tested HIV-positive and need a place to
stay while receiving care at a nearby hospital. Directors of
the local PLWHA association told Ambassador that
stigmatization of people with HIV and AIDS is one of their
biggest challenges. They are attempting to demonstrate to
the community that it is possible to live safely alongside an
infected person. Ambassador promised to emphasize this point
during World Aids Day 2007.

Recovering from Tropical Storm Noel

PORT AU PR 00001880 003.2 OF 003


--------------


9. (U) The three Departments that make up the ''southern
claw''- South, Nippes and Grand'Anse - were hit hard by
Tropical Storm Noel in October (reftel). Standing water was
still visible from the air during the flight from
Port-au-Prince to Les Cayes, and Emboffs witnessed ongoing
distribution of food and water purification tablets to
victims in Les Cayes. Statistics on displaced persons and
property damage are less than exact, but storm recovery
remained the hot topic among almost all of our interlocutors.
FINCA loan recipients reported a downturn in business
following the storm, making loan repayment difficult.
Emboffs also heard reports that the roof of the Les Cayes
hospital was extensively damaged. Despite the yearly
incursion of severe weather, the region's ability to prepare
and recover from such storms is inadequate.


10. (SBU) Comment: Although generally safer than
Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes remains a difficult place to live
due to lack of basic services, high unemployment and weak
local government. The GOH is chronically under-prepared to
cope with tropical storms, which cause damage year after
year, although donor collaboration with the GOH's Directorate
of Civil Protection has made progress in disaster mitigation
and early warning. Additionally, aid programs are making
gradual but solid progress in improving the lives of local
residents. Even local authorities admit problems with
government officials' involvement in the narco-trafficking.
Effectively combating these illegal activities will require
close coordination and communication between the USG, GOH and
MINUSTAH.
SANDERSON