HAITI MONTHLY: JULY, 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001136 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS INL FOR KEVIN BROWN AND ANGELIC YOUNG SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SUBJECT: HAITI MONTHLY: JULY, 2008 REF: A. PORT AU PRINCE 898 ¶B. PORT AU PRINCE 1106 PORT AU PR 00001136 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: This is a monthly report on various topics of interest which do not merit a full reporting cable. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) ELECTORAL LAW VOTED AND PUBLISHED. President Preval July 18 officially signed the electoral law necessary for elections for one-third of the Senate. ''Le Moniteur,'' the official government record, published the law July 25. Parliament in early July voted a second time on the law, the first version of which Preval returned with suggested changes (ref A). In reexamining the law, Parliament opted to keep a provision opposed by Preval that requires two voting centers for each communal section. CEP President Frantz-Gerard Verret told Poloff July 29 that the CEP is currently evaluating the implications of the law and revising the electoral calendar to accommodate what he dubbed ''quite a few innovations'' to the electoral process, chief among them the addition of new voting centers. ¶4. (U) ACCIDENT PROMPTS PUBLIC DEBATE ON TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. A multi-vehicle traffic accident on National Route 2 in southern Haiti on July 26 resulted in 29 dead and approximately 60 injured. According to the police commissar for the South Department, the brakes failed on a large truck transporting merchandise and passengers to Port-au-Prince, causing it to crash into three other vehicles. The accident has kicked off a public debate over the negligent regulation of trucks transporting goods and passengers around the country. Partial blame for the accident is also being attributed to poor road conditions. ¶5. (U) HAITIAN CHAMBER ACCORD TO HELP FORMALIZE THE INFORMAL SECTOR. The Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIH) and the Haitian Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FHAPME),formerly known as the Association of Members of the Informal Sector/ACSI, on July 10 signed an accord to help integrate informal sector associations into the formal sector. FHAPME comprises more than 20 informal sector associations (Note: According to President of CCIH Jean-Robert Argant, the informal sector represents 60 percent of the economy. End Note) Argant told Econoff July 29 that both parties discussed the accord over approximately two years before signing. Argant underlined that the initiative was an important step to help fight discrimination against merchants in the informal sector. Argant explained to Econoff that most informal sector CEO's (generally women and locally known as 'lumena') generate between USD 8-10 million per year. Argant shared that the FHAPME would pay CCIH membership dues. A main component of the accord is to encourage the informal sector to pay taxes. The CCIH assured members that they could hold the government accountable and demand services if they paid taxes to the government. President of FHAPME Yanick Mezile lauded the accord and affirmed that its intention was to reinforce the Haitian economy. Outgoing Minister of Commerce Maguy Durce echoed their enthusiasm and stated that the accord would harmonize relations between the public and private sectors. ¶6. (U) ALL EYES ON BEIJING. Haiti will send 10 athletes to the 2008 Summer Olympics to compete in track and field, judo and boxing. The presidents of the Haitian Olympic Committee and the Haitian Athletic Association will accompany the delegation to Beijing. ¶7. (SBU) FOLLOW-UP TO FORMER MILITARY PROTESTS. Following on the demonstrations organized by former military in Cap Haitien which ended on July 30 (ref B) MINUSTAH sources report 20 demonstrators were arrested for different crimes: 8 for conspiracy against the government and 12 for criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of a firearm. Additionally, the police seized three 38 caliber Taurus revolvers while the suspects were incarcerated. The PORT AU PR 00001136 002.2 OF 002 investigation continues. TIGHE