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DE RUEHPU #0418 0651547
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P 061547Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2502
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0983
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0270
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0423
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0858
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO EAID HA
SUBJECT: CEP DIRECTOR GENERAL RETURNS TO HAITI 
 
REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 365 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Douglas Griffiths.  Reasons 1.4 b and 
d. 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  After two weeks of uncertainty, Provisional 
Electoral Council (CEP) Director General (DG) Jacques Bernard 
returned to Haiti on March 5 to re-assume his position.  A 
delegation of CEP members headed by CEP President Max 
Mathurin met him at the airport.  In Bernard's absence, six 
members of the CEP signed a public declaration pledging their 
unwavering support for Bernard and appreciation for his role 
in the successful conclusion of the first round of the 
general election held February 7 (reftel).  CEP councilors 
Pierre Richard Duchemin and Patrick Fequiere, harsh critics 
of Bernard, are expected to launch strenuous opposition in 
response to Bernard's re-assumption of his duties.  The 
international community, led by the US and Canada, remain 
committed to assist Bernard and the CEP successfully manage 
the remainder of the electoral process to ensure a smooth 
transition of power to the president-elect.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) A majority of the CEP welcomed CEP DG Bernard upon 
his return to Port-au-Prince on March 5.  After the 
uncertainty of the previous two weeks of whether or not 
Bernard would return, the six CEP members (CEP-6) who had 
publicly voiced support for him were visibly relieved.  The 
Charge, joined by the Canadian Ambassador, met with CEP 
members Francois Benoit and Josefa Gauthier March 4 to offer 
support with Bernard's reintegration into the Director 
General's position.  Both councilors expressed appreciation 
for the offer and said it would be needed.  Gauthier 
half-jokingly predicting "war on Monday."  Benoit assured 
Charge that support for Bernard by the six CEP councilors is 
categorically firm. 
 
3,  (C) The main concern surrounding Bernard's return is the 
response to it by Pierre Richard Duchemin and Patrick 
Fequiere, both voluble critics of Bernard, and to a lesser 
extent their CEP ally, Gerson Richme.  Duchemin and Bernard's 
relations were strained from the beginning and have continued 
to degenerate.  When queried by Charge on Duchemin's 
unswerving opposition to Jacques Bernard as Director General, 
both Benoit and Gauthier credited Duchemin's unrestrained 
personal ambition and in Benoit's words, "lust for power." 
Duchemin is a smart and capable person.  However, his 
judgment with regard to Bernard is clouded by a deep-seated 
personal animosity.  Neither President Alexandre nor 
Archbishop Kebreu, head of the Catholic church's Episcopal 
Conference which appointed Duchemin, were willing to remove 
him from his position on the CEP. 
 
¶4.  (C) In contrast to the competent though difficult 
Duchemin, Fequiere is a loose cannon and contrarian to his 
core.  Fequiere's opposition to Bernard poses a problem not 
because it is rational or reasonable but due to his access to 
the media and the media's willingness to provide him with an 
outlet.  He has shown himself willing to provoke a scandal 
based on little or no evidence.  He is the representative 
from the "non-aligned" political parties, a loose group that 
lacks a clear leader who could possibly rein in Fequiere's 
grandstanding. 
 
¶5.  (C) Comment:  With Bernard's return, CEP operations 
should get back on track to assure that the second round 
legislative races can take place as soon as logistically 
feasible, thereby permitting the inauguration of 
President-elect Preval before a seated National Assembly. 
There is an unspoken recognition by the CEP-6 that their 
reputations are on the line and it is through Jacques Bernard 
that they can salvage some measure of face from their total 
inability and incompetence to carry out the task that was set 
before them more than eighteen months ago.  Bernard will need 
the continued support from the international community and 
the IGOH.  At our request, the PM hosted Bernard for lunch 
the day of his return as a strong signal of support.  We are 
also encouraging the PM and President to meet with the CEP as 
a group to reiterate the need to behave and move forward with 
the elections.  Unfortunately neither leader has much 
appetite for conflict so we are doubtful if such a gathering 
will have the full, desired effect.  End Comment. 
 
GRIFFITHS