Haiti: Canada Reevaluates Security and Rule of Law

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000164 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL ASEC KPKO XL HA SUBJECT: Haiti: Canada Reevaluates Security and Rule of Law Assistance REF: A: PORT-AU-PRINCE 158; B: 09 PORT-AU-PRINCE 1094 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Canada's Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (START) in Haiti is reassessing its security and rule of law development assistance in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake. START will likely support the Haitian National Police (HNP) by building a new headquarters building, as well as new police stations at Croix-des-Bouquets and Delmas 33. START has also prioritized a community policing project and comprehensive justice sector review. Relegated to lower priority are START's projects for the Haitian Coast Guard. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On February 11, NAS met with Joel Monfils, director of START in Haiti. In addition to corrections sector projects outlined in REF A, Monfils detailed START's current plans to reprioritize security and rule of law development assistance following the January 12 earthquake. As noted in REF A, START's budget will increase over the next three fiscal years, but current funding remains on hold pending a review of ongoing START projects. Immediate Priorities ¶3. (SBU) By the end of February, START expects to host a team of Canadian legal experts who will assess the current state of the Haitian justice sector. The assessment will move beyond the limited scope of the Croix-des-Bouquets pretrial detention reduction project in REF A. Monfils promised to share results of the assessment with NAS when they are available. (NOTE: NAS believes that the appointment of a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court remains a critical step to allow for justice sector reform. Without a Chief Justice, the 2007 legislation that created an independent judiciary cannot be implemented. The 2007 law established a Superior Judicial Council to govern and administer the court system and to discipline judges, and a School of Magistrates to train and certify judges. Both of these entities are to be headed by the Chief Justice position, which has been vacant since 2004. See REF B for background. END NOTE.) ¶4. (SBU) According to Monfils, START is likely to support a number of projects proposed by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) for the HNP. Among these are the construction of a new Director General headquarters building, as well as new police stations at Delmas 33 and Croix-des-Bouquets, all of which were destroyed in the earthquake. ¶5. (SBU) Following the earthquake, the HNP requested 180 vehicles to replace those damaged and destroyed. Monfils was skeptical of the large number of vehicles in the HNP's request, doubting that 180 had been destroyed in the earthquake. However, START may provide a limited number of vehicles to replace those actually lost in the earthquake, as well as a number for use by border police stations, which START considers a critical priority. However, Monfils noted that the construction of a new vehicle workshop to maintain the donated vehicles is an equally high priority, and that START would be willing to support such a project. (NOTE: MINUSTAH had planned to co-locate a vehicle workshop on the grounds identified for the women's prison in Tabarre, which NAS had previously identified as a U.S. priority. END NOTE.) ¶6. (U) Monfils noted that a final urgent priority for START is the implementation of the second phase of a project to promote urban security in the community of Bel Air. The project, implemented by the Brazilian NGO Viva Rio, works closely with MINUSTAH's Brazilian battalion to implement community policing training, dialogue, and reconciliation between Bel Air community members and the HNP. Part of the second phase will include the creation of a community emergency response brigade. Under Consideration ¶7. (SBU) START is evaluating whether it will support construction of a new Ministry of Justice (MOJ) building. Monfils noted that it would make more sense to construct a new building, rather than to provide temporary structures, given that the old MOJ was completely destroyed and debris has already been removed from the site. Monfils also indicated that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) may support the construction of temporary facilities for the Ministries of Health and Agriculture. On Hold ¶8. (SBU) START's support for the Haitian Coast Guard (HCG) is no longer considered a high priority. Nonetheless, Monfils stated that two of five SeaArk vessels purchased by Canada for donation to the HCG will be ready for delivery by March. START is working with the HCG to determine where the new vessels will be deployed. (NOTE: The training and maintenance packages for the first two years of SeaArk operations will be funded and supported by Port-au-Prince MLO through FMF funding. END NOTE.) ¶9. (SBU) START has also halted plans for the construction of new facilities at the HCG's Killick base. The majority of the infrastructure at Killick was destroyed in the earthquake. On February 16, NAS and MLO will assess damage at Killick, and will coordinate with START to determine the appropriate path forward for restoration of the base. (NOTE: MLO will provide a mobile command trailer, mobile field kitchen, and several large general purpose tents to the HCG at Killick for use in the short-term. END NOTE.) ¶10. (U) START has not yet assessed damage to its project to construct a new base for the HCG in Les Cayes. Monfils noted that the project was only at the beginning stages, and remarked it is unlikely that this base suffered significant damage. Status Unknown ¶11. (SBU) START had previously pledged support for a new HNP Academy located in Ganthier, near the border town of Malpasse. The new academy was to have served as a base for recurrent training for mid and senior level HNP officers, and would not have replaced the current academy used for new recruit training. START had invited a number of Canadian construction companies to Haiti for a pre-bidding conference and site visit that was to have taken place on January 14. Sadly, a number of the construction executives arrived on January 12 and perished in the collapse of the Hotel Montana. It remains unclear when START will be able to resurrect the project in light of the casualties. ¶12. (SBU) COMMENT: Canada's Embassy in Haiti lost about 50 percent of its office space in the earthquake when its helipad collapsed into its building. Many of its personnel are working out of a warehouse, and visa interviews are being conducted outdoors. This illustrates the unusual situation many donors face in delivering assistance while also trying to address their own operational challenges following the earthquake. NAS will likely need to maintain a leadership role to coordinate assistance to the Government of Haiti from security and rule of law sector donors until MINUSTAH and others are able to recover. END COMMENT. LINDWALL