NAS Haiti August 2009 Monthly Report

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000974 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: NAS Haiti August 2009 Monthly Report ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶2. Summary: The month of August saw significant developments in several areas regarding Haitian National Police (HNP) development and capacity building. Organizational Development ¶3. (U) On Monday, August 17, 2009, HNP Director General Mario Andresol was unanimously reappointed by the Haitian Senate to lead the HNP for another three-year term. Andresol's reappointment is significant because it keeps a key GOH/HNP stakeholder in position, thus maintaining continuity with ongoing NAS initiatives. A jubilant DG Andresol and staff are poised to lead the HNP to the next level of organizational development and capacity building. ¶4. (U) On Tuesday, August 18, 2009, the HNP swore in the 21st HNP Promotion (police recruit class) of 468 new graduating officers, bringing the HNP's strength to over 9000 active police officers. Of the 468 recruits, 123 were female, the largest contingent of female graduates in HNP history. The promotion had admitted 476 recruits but expelled eight (8) recruits for reasons ranging from fraudulent school grades in the past, to abandonment, to low academic grades. Significantly, this class was recruited from regional areas outside of Port au Prince and will be deployed to those areas, expanding the reach of Community Policing initiatives ¶5. (U) The HNP Academy also completed the eighth supervisory promotion class in its fourteen-year history. One hundred fifteen Agent IVs were promoted to the rank of Inspector Municipal. One hundred sixteen Agent IVs began the class; one (1) member was not promoted due to a low academic average. Promotion to Inspector Municipal is similar to being promoted from patrol officer to sergeant, the initial official supervisory position in the HNP hierarchy. ¶6. (U) Community policing doctrine and theory comprises an ongoing part of HNP training. During both training for new recruits and for Inspector Municipal, the curriculum included community policing classes. ¶7. (U) In accordance with the Haitian National Police Reform Plan (HNP-RP),vetting of HNP personnel continues. To date, approximately 2,500 HNP officers have been vetted; 112 have failed the process. Among HNP officers on staff prior to the 17th Promotion, the vetting failure rate was 9.7%. Since the 18th Promotion, the vetting failure rate is 0.3% of HNP personnel. Capacity Building ¶8. (U) Work continues on the Wharf Soleil commissariat project, part of the Haiti Stabilization Initiative (HSI) as well as on the HNP Academy Instructor Barracks. The Wharf Soleil project is progressing on schedule with few substantial delays or issues. Conversely, work on the HNP Academy Instructor Barracks has fallen significantly behind schedule due to ongoing issues with the sub-contractor. NAS Haiti staff has initiated steps to resolve sub-contractor problems. ¶9. (U) The US Department of the Treasury Enforcement Team from the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA)team continued its initiatives regarding money laundering and judicial reforms. OTA team members met with their respective counterparts in the MOJ/HNP to continue to monitor, mentor and oversee GOH development in these areas. ¶10. (U) During the week of Monday, August 31, 2009, NAS facilitated the FBI presentation of an anti-kidnapping course to the HNP. NAS provided logistical support for the five-day course. Stabilization Initiatives PORT AU PR 00000974 002 OF 002 ¶11. (U) NAS participated in the initial discussions regarding the proposed Martissant Stabilization Initiative (MSI). Similar to the Haiti Stabilization Initiative (HSI) which focused on targeted projects in the Cite Soleil location, the new project will develop and execute a similar strategy in the Martissant/Cite Eternal area of Port au Prince. Strategic Planning ¶13. Nothing significant to report. ¶14. (U) End of Report. MERTEN