Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10PORTAUPRINCE178
2010-02-22 22:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
HAITI'S QUAKE PUTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON HOLD
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHPU #0178 0532204 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 222201Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0382 INFO HAITI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000178
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA AID EAID KDEM PHUM
SUBJECT: HAITI'S QUAKE PUTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON HOLD
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000178
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA AID EAID KDEM PHUM
SUBJECT: HAITI'S QUAKE PUTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON HOLD
1. (SBU) The January 12 earthquake has taken February 2010
elections off the table and put an end to plans of securing
constitutional reform before the May 12 deadline. Haiti's 1987
constitution requires that two consecutive legislatures approve
constitutional amendments prior to their entry into vigor. For
constitutional reforms to apply to President Preval's successor,
the final reading by a separate legislature must occur prior to May
2010. With the failure to elect a new legislature in February
because of the post-quake cancellation, the current constitutional
process will not be fulfilled by the May 2010 deadline, and reforms
would have be reintroduced and in the best case scenario only
become effective by 2016.
2. (SBU) The constitutional reform unifying the electoral
calendar would have made elections more manageable and reduced
costs to the cash-strapped state. Equally important is the
constitutional reform's elimination of the prohibition of dual
nationality, which has marginalized Haiti's dynamic diaspora
community from the political and economic development of their
homeland. Given that the organization of elections in the
short-term is impossible, only two real options exist. Either the
GOH delays reforms until 2016, with significant political and
economic implications, or it comes up with a formula for reform not
contemplated in the current constitution. During the national
crisis following the departure of Baby Doc, a consensus emerged
among the Haitian political class that this was the appropriate
course of action. In the present crisis, it is possible that such
a consensus could be forged again.
3. (SBU) Comment: Both the Government and the opposition
share the view that constitutional reform is important. Once the
immediate crisis subsides enough to allow a focus on needed reforms
to resume, we expect Preval and the opposition to define a way
forward for constitutional reform.
MERTEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA AID EAID KDEM PHUM
SUBJECT: HAITI'S QUAKE PUTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON HOLD
1. (SBU) The January 12 earthquake has taken February 2010
elections off the table and put an end to plans of securing
constitutional reform before the May 12 deadline. Haiti's 1987
constitution requires that two consecutive legislatures approve
constitutional amendments prior to their entry into vigor. For
constitutional reforms to apply to President Preval's successor,
the final reading by a separate legislature must occur prior to May
2010. With the failure to elect a new legislature in February
because of the post-quake cancellation, the current constitutional
process will not be fulfilled by the May 2010 deadline, and reforms
would have be reintroduced and in the best case scenario only
become effective by 2016.
2. (SBU) The constitutional reform unifying the electoral
calendar would have made elections more manageable and reduced
costs to the cash-strapped state. Equally important is the
constitutional reform's elimination of the prohibition of dual
nationality, which has marginalized Haiti's dynamic diaspora
community from the political and economic development of their
homeland. Given that the organization of elections in the
short-term is impossible, only two real options exist. Either the
GOH delays reforms until 2016, with significant political and
economic implications, or it comes up with a formula for reform not
contemplated in the current constitution. During the national
crisis following the departure of Baby Doc, a consensus emerged
among the Haitian political class that this was the appropriate
course of action. In the present crisis, it is possible that such
a consensus could be forged again.
3. (SBU) Comment: Both the Government and the opposition
share the view that constitutional reform is important. Once the
immediate crisis subsides enough to allow a focus on needed reforms
to resume, we expect Preval and the opposition to define a way
forward for constitutional reform.
MERTEN