VZCZCXRO3108
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1492/01 2531749
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101749Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6819
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001492 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR 
S/CRS 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR SMIG EAID SOCI HA
SUBJECT: POSTCARD FROM CAP HAITIEN 
 
REF: PORT AU PRINCE 515 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: The chief executive official in Haiti's North 
Department (capital: Cap-Haitien) described his two 
priorities as an improved security environment to attract 
foreign investment and a more effective natural disaster 
response.  The Department chief executive said that the new 
mayor of Cap-Haitien, Michel St. Croix, has responded quickly 
to residents' requests for garbage collection and a cleaner 
community. The central government's lack of funding for this 
region and its lack of bureaucratic capacity, even in 
managing paychecks to government employees, is an economic 
constraint. The Cap-Haitien chapter of the Women's 
Association of Haiti (AFASDA) is also making itself felt, 
having provided legal counsel to prosecute the first rape 
case in Cap-Haitien.   End Summary. 
 
PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. Cap-Haitien, situated on the north coast of Haiti and the 
capital of the North Department, is the country's second 
largest city, with a population of approximately 212,000. The 
Delegate of the North, Georgemain Prophete, on July 25 met 
with Poloff in his Cap-Haitien office to discuss his current 
projects.  Prophete is the US equivalent of a governor, 
exercising executive government authority and coordinating 
all government action in the North Department.  Prophete's 
two major priorities in the region are security and natural 
disaster response.  Regarding security, he stated that he 
works closely with MINUSTAH and the United Nations Police 
(UNPOL) to improve law enforcement.  He also said that he 
wants to improve security in order to attract foreign 
investment. Concerning disaster response, he stressed that 
frequent flooding causes as much damage as seasonal 
hurricanes. 
 
¶3. Prophete described his relationship with the Minister of 
Finance, Daniel Dorsainvil, as cooperative. (Note: All 
financing for the North Department comes from the national 
government in Port-au-Prince.  End Note.)  Prophete said that 
the Mayor reacted quickly to local residents' requests for 
regular garbage collection. 
 
¶4. Prophete concluded by identifying his biggest challenge. 
He described economic recovery in Cap-Haitien as slow 
compared to Port-au-Prince.  The GoH's lack of bureaucratic 
capacity, even in managing paychecks to government employees, 
is an economic constraint.  His eleven member staff, 
appointed in 2004, did not receive their first paychecks 
until June 2007, and then received 21 back-payments at once. 
Prophete said that this pattern cannot continue and hopes 
that the GoH can repair the payroll system so employees are 
paid on time.  Prophete is looking into private funding 
sources from local businesses and U.S. government agencies 
(such as USAID) to improve efficiency in his office.  He said 
that he hardly has a ''dream team'' of efficient employees, 
but relies on a supplementary staff of volunteers to carry 
out routine administrative functions.  He also deplored the 
poor state of infrastructure and the North Department's lack 
of financial resources, complaining that as the capital of 
Port-au-Prince absorbs a disproportionate share of funding 
from the national treasury.  Prophete believes that the 
region would benefit from a strong support base in the 
national Parliament (he pointed to the strong lobby that the 
capital enjoyed by Jacmel and the Southeast Department) in 
order to make Cap-Haitien a priority on the national agenda. 
 
WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Poloff also met Elvire Eugene, the Founder and CEO of the 
Association of Women of Haiti (AFASDA) on July 26.  Eugene 
said that AFASDA is an organization that works with women 
''to empower them to take action for a more equitable society 
through active participation.''  Their projects focus on 
literacy, health, the environment, and running a training 
center for girls.  Their legal assistance project recently 
helped bring to trial the first rape case in Cap-Haitien. 
The rapist was sentenced to ten years of hard labor in July 
¶2005. Eugene said that she is proud that more women are 
taking advantage of AFASDA services since its creation in 
November 1997.  She said that it is a sign that women are 
less afraid and more willing to fight social injustice. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
 
PORT AU PR 00001492  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. The lack of financial support from the central government 
continues to hinder progress in the North Department. 
Prophete tries to win support among local residents by 
focusing on modest projects such as ensuring regular garbage 
collection.  Civil society organizations such as AFASDA are 
becoming more active in making the local judicial system more 
responsive to citizens' needs, particularly concerning the 
treatment of women.  The positive developments we noted in 
the North Department and in Cap-Haitien are indeed meager. 
Moreover, continuing central government neglect of Haiti's 
second largest city will not only overshadow these modest 
community and social advances but also hold back Haiti's 
economy as a whole. 
SANDERSON