VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPU #0158/01 0442006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 132003Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0352
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0126
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0003
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000158 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV SNAR SOCI KPKO KJUS UN XL HA
SUBJECT: Haiti: UK and Canadian Donor Plans for Corrections Sector 
 
¶1.       (SBU) SUMMARY: NAS met on February 11 with officials from 
the United Kingdom's Department for International Development 
(DFID) and Canada's Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force 
(START), to discuss corrections sector development plans in the 
wake of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.  DFID's efforts will be 
limited to short-term and low cost projects, whereas START has 
reprioritized ongoing projects and will be increasing long term 
development investments in Haiti.  It is clear that the donor 
community needs to coordinate and propose a consolidated 
corrections sector recovery plan for the Government of Haiti's 
(GOH) approval.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Prison Capacity 
 
¶2.       (U) At present, sufficient prison capacity remains 
available in Haiti.  As a result of the earthquake, 5,133 prisoners 
escaped out of a total national prison population of 8,535.  The 
majority of prisoners escaped from the National Penitentiary, with 
a total of 4,215 escapees.  In addition, Delmas lost 290, Arcahaie 
253, Carrefour 180, Coteau 74, Jacmel 73, Les Cayes 38, and St. 
Marks 10.  As of February 12, the HNP reports that it has captured 
100 of these escaped prisoners.  In Port-au-Prince, both the United 
Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and an 
INL-sponsored prisons assessment team have determined that the 
Petion Ville and Carrefour prisons remain functional.  Less 
extensive repairs at the Delmas and Arcahaie prisons should return 
capacity to pre-earthquake levels.  The National Penitentiary, 
however, will require significant long term repairs, although the 
infirmary and isolation wards remain structurally sound. 
 
UK DFID Plans 
 
¶3.       (SBU) On February 11, NAS met with Mark Etherington and 
Michael Boyle, corrections sector representatives from the United 
Kingdom (UK) currently seconded to DFID for a short term mission in 
Haiti.  (NOTE: The UK covers Haiti out of its Embassy in the 
Dominican Republic.  END NOTE.)  Etherington explained that the UK 
has allocated 700,000 USD for emergency assistance to the Haitian 
corrections sector, and noted that DFID does not anticipate an 
increase in long term assistance, as the UK has few national 
interests in Haiti. 
 
¶4.       (SBU) According to Etherington, Haiti's Director of Prison 
Administration (DAP), Jean-Roland Celestin, requested that the UK 
evaluate the feasibility of restoring the National Penitentiary, 
Delmas, Arcahaie, and a building in Gonaives to functional prison 
capacity.  The UK confirmed with MINUSTAH that these also reflected 
priorities agreed upon between the GOH and MINUSTAH.  Both the UK 
and NAS are surprised by the proposal for Gonaives, as it requires 
seizing a house from a criminal incarcerated in the U.S., and then 
converting it into a detention facility.  DFID has already 
determined that the project is beyond its means, and questions the 
viability of the project.  DFID's budget would also be insufficient 
to take on repairs at the National Penitentiary. 
 
¶5.       (SBU) DFID is currently evaluating a way forward, and is 
considering sending 2-4 UK experts for six months to work directly 
with the DAP.  DFID's tentative plan is to propose a bilateral 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the GOH.  DFID would 
incorporate language into the MOU which would prohibit the GOH from 
returning to pre-earthquake levels of prison overcrowding.  DFID 
only plans to work on two or three prison facilities in order to 
rebuild to a level of pre-earthquake capacity, and believes that 
its funding would be best suited for the quick repairs required at 
Arcahaie and Delmas.  With remaining funds, DFID would propose 
enhancements to sanitation, water, and prison layout. 
Alternatively, DFID may elect to channel funding through the 
Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), should PADF have any 
remaining capacity in country in addition to its other earthquake 
recovery projects. 
 
Canada's START to Increase Budget 
 
¶6.       (SBU) Also on February 11, NAS met with Joel Monfils, 
director of Canada's START program in Haiti.  Monfils noted that 
his assistance budget would be increasing, starting with Canada's 
next fiscal year beginning in April.  Currently the START budget is 
at 15M, but will increase to 25M, and then to 30M each year for the 
two subsequent fiscal years.  START funding for the last quarter of 
their current fiscal year remains on hold as Canada reprioritizes 
assistance.  (NOTE: This budget increase will not be solely 
allocated to the corrections sector.  The Government of Canada 
(GOC) is still evaluating the final line item divisions between 
different sectors.  END NOTE.) 
 
Croix-des-Bouquets Prison Project 
 
¶7.       (U) Construction of the 750-inmate prison at 
Croix-des-Bouquets, sponsored by START and implemented by the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM), remains on track, 
according to Monfils.  Only minor superficial damage to the 
perimeter wall and wall foundation has been observed, and no damage 
to buildings has been discovered.  The IOM supports this finding, 
but START is awaiting the final assessment of a structural 
engineering team which will visit the week of February 15.  The IOM 
will resume construction on the project as soon as the GOC gives it 
notice to proceed.  Monfils anticipates that the prison will come 
online in May or June, providing Haiti with an additional prison 
capacity for 750 inmates. 
 
¶8.       (SBU) According to Monfils, START is "taking a very hard 
second look at building extra capacity," given the large loss of 
capacity at the National Penitentiary.  Monfils noted that prior to 
the earthquake, DAP and MINUSTAH were both pressuring START to 
increase the size of the Croix-des-Bouquets project.  Currently, 
the project has two double-story and two single-story buildings. 
The single-story buildings are strong enough to support an 
additional level.  START originally resisted the idea to increase 
capacity in an effort to avoid prisoner overcrowding.  However, the 
GOC is now reconsidering, as an additional story on each of the two 
single-story buildings would increase prisoner capacity by 250, for 
a total capacity of 1,000 prisoners. 
 
Croix-des-Bouquets Pretrial Detention Project 
 
¶9.       (SBU) Monfils stated that Canada has moved a pilot project 
to decrease prolonged pretrial detention in the Croix-des-Bouquets 
jurisdiction to the top of START's list of post-earthquake 
priorities, given the destruction of tribunals and the Ministry of 
Justice.  The pilot project would work to assist Haiti's justice 
sector find ways to reduce prolonged pretrial detention, the major 
reason for prison overcrowding and one of Haiti's most significant 
human rights issues.  As an example, of the 230 current prisoners 
in the Petion Ville women's prison, only 27 have been convicted. 
Monfils noted that the project has cleared the first step of a two 
stage approval process, and states that the project is "almost 
approved." 
 
¶10.   (U) START will use Avocats Sans Frontieres (Lawyers without 
Borders) Canada for project implementation.  START believes, and 
NAS concurs, that Canada's legal system is the closest match to 
Haiti's unique hybrid legal system, which has elements of both the 
French Napoleonic code and English common law.  NAS asked Monfils 
to evaluate whether Avocats Sans Frontieres would have the capacity 
to expand the project to other regions, and Monfils agreed to 
investigate this possibility. 
 
¶11.   (SBU) COMMENT: Given the GOH's repetitive and identical 
requests to different donors for corrections sector assistance, it 
is clear that the donor community must take the lead in 
coordinating assistance.  MINUSTAH is still rebuilding its own 
capacity to lead and coordinate.  NAS, the UK, and Canada agree 
that the principal donors need to work together with the GOH to 
determine immediate priorities and options.  NAS will organize a 
post-level coordination meeting with DFID, START, and MINUSTAH, in 
order to prepare a consolidated corrections sector recovery plan to 
offer to the GOH.  END COMMENT. 
LINDWALL