HAITIAN AMBASSADOR OPPOSES SLOOP BAN, SEEKS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000711

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG SNAR BF HA
SUBJECT: HAITIAN AMBASSADOR OPPOSES SLOOP BAN, SEEKS TO
ORGANIZE HAITIANS

REF: A. NASSAU 398

B. NASSAU 191

Classified By: Charge for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Haitian Ambassador told Charge he seeks
to better organize the Haitian-Bahamian community in order to
more effectively lobby the GCOB on issues of concern. He
also expressed opposition to a new GCOB ban on wooden-hulled
commercial sailing sloops citing its negative economic
effects. Post and other USG actors have called for
legislation, still in the works, effectively banning such
vessels as essentially unregulated and hazardous to illegal
migrants. Organized opposition to the ban and increased
advocacy by Haitian-Bahamians on Haitian issues could provoke
a backlash against Haitians by the Bahamian government and
public. END SUMMARY.

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DECRIES SLOOP BAN AS BAD ECONOMICS, BUT ADMITS DANGERS
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2. (C) The longtime Ambassador of Haiti in The Bahamas,
Louis Joseph, told Charge of his concerns over recent GCOB
ban on wooden-hulled commercial sailing sloops, most of which
originate from northern Haiti. Haitian wooden trading sloops
normally have their cargoes inspected at Matthew Town, Great
Inagua before proceeding north. From there they conduct
small-scale trade in foodstuffs, charcoal, and other goods
between Haiti and Haitian communities throughout the Bahamian
islands. In recent weeks the Royal Bahamas Defense Force has
not been allowing the sloops to proceed north from Great
Inagua. It remains unclear precisely when the new ban on
trading sloops was instituted and on what basis. Since
August, the sailboats have disappeared from Nassau,s western
harbor.


3. (C) Ambassador Joseph opposed the move due to its
negative economic effects both in Haiti and in the Haitian
community throughout The Bahamas. He allowed that the
vessels were basically unregulated under current law and
posed serious hazards to migrants who use them for illegal
passage through Bahamian waters, occasionally resulting in
serious loss of life. The Ambassador, however, stated that
there was no proof that such vessels were implicated in drug
or arms smuggling, and that their role in human smuggling was
much smaller than that of air routes. He stated that these
vessels were essential for traditional trade between Haiti
and The Bahamas and that the only long-term solution for the
problem of illegal immigration was to assist the economic
development of Haiti, encouraging people to stay, rather than
risk their lives at sea to emigrate north. COMMENT: While
trading sloops may indeed have little spare capacity to
smuggle people, similar vessels overloaded with illegal
migrants are commonly spotted off the shores of New
Providence and other islands, belying the Ambassador,s
dismissal of their role in human smuggling compared to
illegal arrivals by air. While South Americans might fly to
Nassau before embarking on fast-boat excursions to Florida,
Haitian migrants come by sea. END COMMENT.

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NO GCOB CONSULTATIONS ON BAN, DESPITE USG CALLS FOR ACTION
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4. (C) Ambassador Joseph was particularly unhappy that the
GCOB did not consult or inform the Haitian Embassy in advance
about the ban. This left the impression in the Haitian
community, he said, that the Haitian Embassy was involved in
the policy and complicated his already sensitive relations
with members of the community. PolChief noted USG concerns
over regulation and safety of these vessels, and asked the
Ambassador to stress in his outreach to the Haitian community
that there was no change in U.S. immigration policy toward
the Caribbean.


5. (C) GCOB officials did not consult or inform Post on the
recent change in policy concerning the sloops either, despite
regular USG calls for legislation to regulate, and
effectively ban, such vessels in the past (ref A, B).
Immigration officials first informed EmbOffs about the new
policy of not allowing sailing freighters to proceed beyond
Great Inagua September 19, explaining that no such sloops had
reached Nassau in three weeks. Subsequent contacts with port
and immigration officials confirmed the ban, which was
reportedly implemented under existing immigration law. No
formal order or document indicating a start-date for the new
policy was produced, and new legislation remains in the
works. COMMENT: The move has all the appearance of an ad
hoc policy, possibly associated with changes in the
immigration portfolio since a government reshuffle in July.
The new Minister of Immigration, who now reports to the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, told
the Charge September 25 only that the Prime Minister had

given him "some latitude" upon his assumption of duty. END
COMMENT.

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CALL FOR HAITIAN GROUPS TO UNITE AND LOBBY
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6. (C) The Haitian Ambassador told the Charge that he also
seeks to better organize the Haitian-Bahamian community in
order to more effectively lobby the GCOB on issues of
concern. Joseph pointed to problems with fair and timely
processing of citizenship and residency claims, immigration
enforcement efforts targeting illegal Haitians, and
mistreatment by unscrupulous employers who take advantage of
weaknesses in Bahamian immigration law to exploit workers,
legal or otherwise. The Ambassador noted that while the
Ingraham government was less engaged bilaterally with Haiti,
its policies at home were more amenable to Haitians living
here. He contrasted this with the situation under the
previous, PLP administration, when the Foreign Minister
engaged quickly and publicly with the Haitian government upon
taking office, while the Ministry of Immigration cracked down
on illegals and increased anti-immigrant rhetoric. The
Ambassador speculated that this policy backfired in the May
2007 elections, leading Haitian-Bahamian voters to turn the
tide against the incumbent PLP in several Nassau
constituencies and help ensure an FNM win.


7. (C) Meanwhile, The Bahamas, Prime Minister Ingraham
called in New York at the UNGA for increased international
investment in economic development in Haiti, and announced
that the GCOB will provide more disaster relief and even
suspend repatriations of illegal immigrants to Haiti. The
GCOB, and the Bahamian public, are already primed for
increased migration from Haiti and the associated social and
economic problems, at a time of heightened domestic economic
uncertainty due to the financial problems in the U.S.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) With the Haitian population in The Bahamas reliably
estimated to be between 25 and 35 thousand (8-11%),tensions
could rise significantly should the Haitians openly organize
and advocate for Haitian issues. The sizable Haitian
community is generally subjected to societal prejudice and a
degree of economic exploitation. The recent change in policy
toward wooden sloops may be the catalyst that unites this
already disenfranchised community. The Haitian Ambassador,s
plan to increase advocacy comes at a particularly sensitive
time, given the Bahamas, fear of a mass exodus north
following the recent series of storms and ongoing economic
desperation, and risks antagonizing a Bahamian government and
public already fearful of a mass migration from Haiti.
ZUNIGA-BROWN