PRIME MINISTER PIERRE-LOUIS ON HAITI'S URGENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001414
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID
NSC FOR FISK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2018



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TAGS: PGOV EAID SOCI EAGR HA
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER PIERRE-LOUIS ON HAITI'S URGENT
NEEDS, BUILDING A GOVERNMENT AND WORKING WITH PREVAL

REF: PAP 1377
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JANET A. SANDERSON, REASON 1.4(B) AND (D.)

1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER MICHELE
PIERRE-LOUIS (MPL) GAVE ME A CAUTIOUSLY UPBEAT ASSESSMENT OF
HER FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE DURING OUR BREAKFAST MEETING
OCTOBER 2. SHE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE ASSISTANCE
HAITI HAS RECEIVED IN THE WAKE OF THE HURRICANES, AND FOR US
SUPPORT IN GENERAL. SHE IS CONCERNED THAT THE EXTENT OF THE
DEVASTATION IS SUCH THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT COPE WITHOUT A
MASSIVE INFLUX OF MORE AID. SHE INTENDS TO TRAVEL TO THE US
AS SOON AS CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW HER TO DO SO TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE SHE ATTACHES TO OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. SHE
IS PLEASED BY HER RECEPTION DURING VISITS TO
HURRICANE-STRIKEN AREAS AND HAS COME AWAY MORE CONVINCED THAN
EVER OF THE NEED MOVE QUICKLY ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND FLOOD
CONTROL ISSUES. PIERRE-LOUIS IS ALSO GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT
HAITI'S ABILITY TO FEED ITSELF AND THE IMPACT THAT FOOD



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SECURITY ISSUES COULD HAVE ON THE NATIONS FUTURE. SHE
WELCOMES OUR SUPPORT IN THESE AREAS. THE PRIME MINISTER IS
SLOWLY CARVING OUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH PREVAL, ALTHOUGH HE
CONTINUES TO MONOPOLIZE HER CALENDAR. SHE CHARACTERIZES HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH PARLIAMENT AS GOOD, DESPITE SOME POSTURING
ON BOTH SIDES. SHOCKED BY THE EXTENT OF MISUSE OF PUBLIC
TREASURY FUNDS, BOTH IN THE PRIME MINISTRY AND IN THE
GOVERNMENT, PIERRE LOUIS IS CHANGING GOH REGULATIONS ON
TRAVEL AND CAR RENTALS.

2. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT CONTINUED. OUR SENSE THAT PIERRE
LOUIS IS INDEED OFF TO A GOOD START AND HAS WON CAUTIOUS
APPROVAL OF HAITI'S SNARKY POLITICAL CLASSES. THAT SUPPORT
COULD WELL BE FLEETING, GIVEN THE INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS
OF MANY OF HAITI'S POLITICIANS TO PUT ASIDE THEIR OWN
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL AGENDAS FOR THE NATION'S GOOD. RIGHTLY
OR WRONGLY, MICHELE PIERRE LOUIS WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF ANY
PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WITH PACE AND SCOPE OF THE
GOVERNMENTS HURRICANE RELIEF/RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT, AN
EFFORT THAT APPEARS TO US TO BE FAR BEYOND ITS CURRENT
CAPABILITIES. END COMMENT AND SUMMARY.



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3. (C) OVER BREAKFAST OCTOBER 2, HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER
MICHELE PIERRE LOUIS (MPL) GAVE ME A CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE
ASSESSMENT OF HER FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE. WHILE SHE IS PLEASED
WITH THE SUPPORT THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED, AND EXPRESSED HER
PARTICULAR APPRECIATION FOR THE RELIEF AID HAITI RECEIVED
FROM THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, SHE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF HER ARE DAUNTING.
INDEED, THEY GO FAR BEYOND WHAT SHE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT SHE
WAS TAKING ON WITH THIS JOB. ON ONE HAND, DURING THE LAST
MONTH SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BUILD ON THE SENSE OF NATIONAL
EMERGENCY, HOWEVER FLEETING, AND MOBILIZE AND UNIFY THE
HAITIAN BODY POLITIC IN SUPPORT OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE
STORMS. ON THE OTHER, HER OWN POLITICAL AGENDA - INCLUDING
GOVERNMENT REFORM - HAS BEEN PUSHED ASIDE AND HER OWN FUTURE
IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO HOW WELL THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMS ON
RELIEF/RECONSTRUCTION ISSUES. AND SHE KNOWS VERY WELL, SHE
TOLD ME, THAT HER HONEYMOON WILL BE A BRIEF ONE. BUT SHE
STRESSED, SHE IS DETERMINED TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR
HER COUNTRY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

4. (C) PIERRE-LOUIS EXPRESSED DEEP REGRET THAT THE CURRENT



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SITUATION HAD STOPPED HER FROM TRAVELING TO WASHINGTON AS SHE
HAD HOPED. SHE BELIEVES IT IS IMPORTAN FOR HER TO MAKE A
VISIT TO HAITI'S LARGEST PARTER AS SOON AS CIRCUMSTANCES
HERE PERMIT AND WELCMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE THE TRIP
WHEN SHEHAS HAD A BIT OF BREATHING ROOM. SHE TOLD ME SHEWOULD
PARTICULARLY WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKEA COURTESY
ALL ON THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SECURTY ADVISOR, AND
SECRETARY OF STATE. GIVEN THE EORMOUS INVESTMENT THAT THE
USG HAS MADE IN HAITI VER THE YEARS, AND THE CONTINUED
SUPPORT THAT AR SO VITAL TO HER GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID, THE US
REATIONSHIP IS ONE THAT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ER
ADMINISTRATION'S FUTURE.

5. (C) PIERRE-LOUIS BELIEVES THE GOH MUST BE SEEN TO LEAD.
SHE HAS BEEN DEEPLY GRATIFIED BY HER RECEPTION DURING A
SERIES OF TRIPS TO HURRICANE-AFFECTED REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY
=SECTION 02=========================================
NEEDS, BUILDING A GOVERNMENT AND WORKING WITH PREVAL
AND HAS PLANNED MORE PRESS CONFERENCES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
GOH IS ATTEMPTING TO DO TO PUT THE COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER. HER
FIRST TRIP TO GONAIVES, MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, WAS



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WORRISOME. SHE FULLY EXPECTED THAT THE INHABITANTS, MANY OF
WHOM ARE STILL IN SHELTERS, WOULD THROW ROCKS AT HER, YET
THEY APPLAUDED HER, SHE TOLD ME IN SOME RELIEF. SINCE THAT
TRIP, MPL HAS ALSO VISITED THE CENTRAL PLATEAU AND JACMEL AND
IS SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO THE NORTHWESTERN TOWN OF PORT DE
PAIX. THE EXTENT OF THE HURRICANE DESTRUCTION, NOW IN NINE
OUT OF TEN DEPARTMENTS OF THE COUNTRY, HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING,
THE PM COMMENTED. SHE HAS NO IDEA HOW THE NATION IS GOING TO
DEAL WITH THE CLEANUP, MUCH LESS THE REBUILDING, WITH ITS
CURRENT RESOURCES.

6. (C) ONE THE PM'S KEY TAKE-AWAYS FROM HER TRIPS THUS FAR
IS THAT HAITI MUST ADDRESS ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FAILINGS.
NEGLECTED WATERSHED ISSUES AND THE ALMOST TOTAL DEFORESTATION
OF THE COUNTRY HAS BROUGHT HAITI TO WHERE IT IS TODAY, WITH
MAJOR CITIES FLOODED AND KNEE DEEP IN MUD. PIERRE-LOUIS IS
DETERMINED TO MAKE THESE ISSUES A TOP PRIORITY OF HER
GOVERNMENT. FURTHERMORE, SHE FLAGGED FOR ME HER CONTINUING
CONCERN ABOUT FOOD SECURITY ISSUES AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE
JOB CREATION PROGRAMS. GIVEN THE STORMS IMPACT ON THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR - CURRENT ASSESSMENTS PUT THE LOSSES AT



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DOLS 250 MILLION, SHE SAID - HAITI WILL NEED SERIOUS,
SUSTAINED, GUARANTEED FOOD AID TO FEED ITS PEOPLE. IF NOT,
PIERRE LOUIS SUGGESTED, HAITIANS COULD TAKE TO THE STREETS
AGAIN AS THEY DID IN APRIL.

7. (C) I BRIEFED THE PM ON THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION WE
HAVE REGARDING THE CR ALLOCATION OF HURRICANE RELIEF FOR
HAITI, NOTING OUR DESIRE TO FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, AG
REHABILITATION, AND RESTORATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES. PIERRE
LOUIS WELCOMED THESE PLANS AND APPLAUDED OUR FOCUS ON UPPER
WATERSHED FLOOD CONTROL AND OTHER DISASTER MITIGATION
EFFORTS. SHE SAID THAT THE GOH HAS YET TO PUT A PRICE TAG ON
THE COST OF REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION, OBSERVING
FRANKLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS, EVEN WITH OUTSIDE HELP,
TOTALLY OVERWHELMED BY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DISASTER. SHE
LAMENTED THE FACT THAT IT TAKES MUCH LONGER THAN SHE EVER
DREAMED POSSIBLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE HERE. SHE ASKED THAT WE
LOOK AT PROVIDING THE GOH WITH ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO OFFSET THEIR LACK OF CAPACITY.

8. (C) PIERRE-LOUIS AND PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL ARE NOW
WORKING THEIR WAY TO A SOLID RELATIONSHIP. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED



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THAT SHE WAS MOVING CAREFULLY WITH THE PRICKLY PREVAL AND
THAT HE CONTINUES TO MONOPOLIZE HER CALENDAR, OFTEN AT THE
EXPENSE OF HER OWN AGENDA. PREVAL CALLS HER TO 3-4 HOUR
MEETINGS ON LITTLE NOTICE. THAT WILL CHANGE, SHE ASSERTED,
TELLING ME THAT SHE WILL DISTANCE HERSELF SLOWLY FROM HIS
EMBRACE. TO SUCCEED AS PM, MPL SAID, SHE KNOWS SHE MUST
ESTABLISH HERSELF WHILE MAINTAINING SOLID, MUTUALLY CONFIDENT
LINKS WITH HER OLD FRIEND.

9. (C) THAT BEING SAID, PIERRE-LOUIS'S LEADERSHIP STYLE
DIFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THAT OF THE PRESIDENT AND SHE
INTIMATED THAT SHE FINDS MANAGING THOSE DIFFERENCES A
CHALLENGE AT TIMES. SHE SAID THAT SHE SUCCESSFULLY PERSUADED
A RELUCTANT PREVAL TO VISIT GONAIVES BY POINTING OUT THAT IT
GAVE HIS REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE MORE CREDIBILITY. (SHE ADDED
THAT FORMER PM ALEXIS ALSO WEIGHED IN WITH THE PRESIDENT.)
COMMENTING ON PREVAL'S WIDELY REPORTED REMARKS TO THE PRESS
UPON HIS RETURN FROM UNGA THAT HAITI COULD NOT COUNT ON THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP, MPL WRYLY SAID THAT SHE
WISHED THE PRESIDENT WOULD STICK TO HIS TALKING POINTS AND
REVEALED THAT HE DID VET HIS UNGA REMARKS WITH HER. SHE



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CONFIRMED THAT PREVAL DID INDEED TELL THE DIRECTOR OF THE WFP
SHEERAN THAT THE WFP PROGRAM IN HAITI WAS A WASTE OF
RESOURCES, AS THE UNSRSG HAD RECENTLY CONFIDED TO ME. WHEN
CALLED ON IT SUBSEQUENTLY BY THE PM AND HIS OWN STAFF, PREVAL
TRIED TO CLAIM THAT THE TRANSLATION OF HIS REMARKS WAS TO
BLAME. "I THINK," PIERRE LOUIS NOTED, "THAT WE MAY NEED TO BE
A BIT MORE NUANCED IN OUR APPROACH TO OUR FRIENDS." AT A TIME
WHEN HAITI NEEDS ALL ITS FRIENDS, I NOTED, PREVAL'S CAVALIER
APPROACH TO THE DONORS ISN'T HELPFUL AND HIS REMARKS CANNOT
ALL BE PASSED OFF, AS HE OFTEN LIKES TO DO, AS IRONY.
PIERRE-LOUIS TOOK THE POINT.
=SECTION 03=========================================
NEEDS, BUILDING A GOVERNMENT AND WORKING WITH PREVAL

10. (C) PIERRE-LOUIS IS ALSO FINDING HER FOOTING WITH HAITI'S
CANTANKEROUS PARLIAMENT. SHE CONFESSED THAT THE BRUISING
CONFIRMATION PROCESS HAD BEEN UNEXPECTED AND IN SOME WAYS,
HAS BEEN HARD TO PUT BEHIND HER. BUT SHE HAS NO CHOICE AND
HAS BEEN COURTING PARLIAMENTARIANS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF
SUCCESS. NONETHELESS, THERE IS A LIMIT, SHE SAID. MPL TOLD
ME THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE



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SENATE THE PREVIOUS EVENING SUMMONING HER AND FOUR MINISTERS
TO PARLIAMENT THAT MORNING TO BRIEF ON CURRENT RELIEF
EFFORTS. FINALLY DECIDING THAT SHE COULDN'T DO JUSTICE TO THE
SUBJECT WITHOUT SOME PREPARATION, AND POINTING OUT THAT MOST
OF THE MINISTERS WOULD BE IN GONAIVES WITH PREVAL THAT DAY
ANYWAY, SHE TOLD THE SENATE SHE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. SENATE
PRESIDENT KELY BASTIEN ARGUED WITH HER BRIEFLY, BUT SHE SAID
SHE DEMANDED AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE OF AN INVITATION TO
MEET WITH PARLIAMENT. THE TWO HAVE NOW AGREED THAT SHE WILL
GO TO THE SENATE TO DISCUSS GOH HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS ON
OCTOBER 6.

11. (C) HURRICANES AND PARLIAMENTARIANS ASIDE, PIERRE LOUIS
SAID THAT A KEY PRIORITY IS CHANGING THE GOH'S
BUSINESS-AS-USUAL MINDSET. SHE WAS AGHAST, SHE SAID, WHEN SHE
MOVED IN TO THE PRIME MINISTRY AND DISCOVERED THAT MORE THAN
350 PEOPLE ARE ON THE PRIME MINISTRY PAYROLL BUT MOST DO NOT
SHOW UP FOR WORK. THE PRIMATURE OWNS 80 CARS BUT IN HER FIRST
DAYS IN OFFICE, MPL WAS ASKED TO APPROVE THE RENTAL OF 20
MORE, WITH NO INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THE EXISTING
FLEET. EARLY IN HER FIRST WEEKS IN OFFICE, CROWDS GATHERED



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OUTSIDE THE PRIMATURE EXPECTING THAT SHE, LIKE HER
PREDECESSOR, WOULD HAND OUT RENTREE SCOLAIRE (SCHOOL OPENING)
FEES. IN THE PAST, THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE HAD SET ASIDE
FUNDS FOR THE PM TO DO WITH AS HE WISHED WITH NO FURTHER
ACCOUNTING. SHE SENT THE CROWDS TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
WHERE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH SUPPORT COULD BE VERIFIED.
THE PM'S RESIDENCE IS INHABITABLE: THE PUBLIC ROOMS ARE DIRTY
AND DAMAGES AND THE TOILETS IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
AREAS ARE BROKEN. THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY BY HER
PREDECESSOR CLEARLY DISCOMFITED THE PM.

12. (C) CRITICAL TO HER EFFORT TO REFORM GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS, SHE SAID, WILL BE TO REIN IN GOVERNMENT TRAVEL
EXPENSES. OFFICIAL TRAVEL AND PERKS ARE OUT OF CONTROL IN THE
HAITIAN GOVERNMENT, THE PRIME MINISTER BELIEVES. SHE TOLD ME
THAT FOLLOWING HER OWN TRIP TO GONAIVES, HER SECRETARY
BROUGHT HER A CHECK FOR HG 20,000 (USD 526). THIS SUM
REPRESENTED GOH PER DIEM FOR HER FOUR HOUR VISIT. SHE TORE
THE CHECK UP, TELLING HER STAFF THAT MINUSTAH PROVIDED HER
TRANSPORT TO THE CITY AND SHE SPENT NO MONEY DURING THE
VISIT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, STATE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY LUC



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JOSEPH EUCHER REQUESTED TRAVEL EXPENSES AND PER DIEM FOR A
TRIP TO PARIS FULLY FUNDED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. PIERRE-
LOUIS SAID SHE WILL SHORTLY TELL ALL MINISTRIES THAT THE GOH
WILL NO LONGER ISSUE BLANKET PER DIEM ORDERS BUT WILL ONLY
REIMBURSE EXPENSES. GIVEN THAT MINISTERS ROUTINELY CLAIM
DOLS 750/DAY FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL - AND SEE IT AS AN
ENTITLEMENT - MPL KNOWS SHE HAS HER WORK CUT OUT FOR HER IN
THIS AREA.
SANDERSON