PREVAL IN JAMAICA TO INCREASE COOPERATION

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000055

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL IN JAMAICA TO INCREASE COOPERATION

REF: A. PORT AU PRINCE 42

B. PORT AU PRINCE 38


1. Summary: President Rene Preval visited Jamaica January
3-7 to meet with GoJ officials and discuss bilateral and
regional integration. President Preval and Jamaican Prime
Minister Portia Simpson Miller publicly discussed strategies
for eliminating the trafficking of drugs and weapons.
Whereas Miller announced a plan that will get rid of
trafficking "once and for all," Preval said that Jamaica and
Haiti should not be held accountable since they are neither
producer nor consumer countries of weapons and drugs.
Haiti's re-integration into CARICOM, Petrocaribe
implementation, tourism, agriculture, reforestation and
education were the other issues discussed. Jamaica, Haiti's
closest regional ally, has supported Haiti through its
transition and has taken the lead in reintegrating Haiti into
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). End summary.


2. During a press conference, Jamaican Prime Minister
Simpson Miller told her audience that the GoJ was planning a
surprise attack to end trafficking once and for all.
President Preval agreed that trafficking was a problem but
did not offer a solution. He said that many drugs come to
Haiti from Jamaica whereas weapons go to Jamaica from Haiti.
However, neither Haiti nor Jamaica produces drugs and
weapons, and the two countries are not major consumers
either. (Note: Preval claimed Haiti was a victim of the
United States, "a drug-consuming country," in a speech to
parliament on January 9 (ref A). End note.)


3. According to PM Simpson Miller, Jamaica supports Haiti's
re-integration into CARICOM and its participation in the
CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME). Preval confirmed that
Haiti was proceeding with technical preparations that would
eventually allow it to participate in the CSME (ref B).


4. Michel Lecorps, newly appointed head of the Bureau of
Monetization (which is charged with the Petrocaribe dossier)
joined the delegation to discuss implementation of the
Venezuelan initiative. Lecorps told POLOFF January 9 that
Haiti is in the implementing stage but is still working out
the modalities of the agreement. Jamaica was a wise choice
for consultation as the first country in the region to
implement Petrocaribe (see septel). Lecorps confirmed the
discussion and resulting agreements between the two countries
on education, agriculture and reforestation.


5. According to tourism minister Patrick Delatour (also in
Jamaica),Haiti could learn from Jamaica's experience as a
country that had an image of instability and insecurity.
Haiti is considering doing what Jamaica did years ago:
promoting parts of the country like Cap Haitien, which has
the Citadelle, a legendary fortress built in the early 1800s;
Jacmel, a beautiful coastal city known for its handicrafts;
and various islands surrounding the Haitian mainland.
Delatour said that Jamaica could also benefit from Haiti's
expertise in handicrafts.


6. Comment: Despite Jamaica's hostility toward the interim
government -- and its fear of becoming a destination for
maritime economic migrants from Haiti -- the country has come
forward as one of the most pro-Haiti CARICOM members since
Haiti's democratic elections in 2006. As Haiti moves forward
with regional integration, Haiti will look to its "sister
nation" (according to PM Simpson Miller) as a partner and a
friend.
SANDERSON