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DE RUEHPU #0160/01 0451643
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FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0354
INFO RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000160 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL XL HA
SUBJECT: NAS Haiti December 2009 Monthly Report 
 
¶1. (U) (NOTE: This cable serves to fulfill a monthly INL reporting 
requirement to document activities for the month of December 2009. 
The content dates prior to the January 12, 2010 earthquake.  END 
NOTE.) 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary: In December 2009, there were significant 
developments in the NAS-Haiti program and movement in several 
project areas.  Ambassador Merten and NAS met with newly appointed 
Minister of Justice Paul Denis; NAS conducted oversight visits to 
several construction projects; Haitian authorities executed arrest 
warrants for two Haitian former executives of the Haiti Teleco as a 
result of OTA efforts; and NAS-Haiti coordinated with several 
partners on the Haiti Stabilization Initiative and other strategic 
planning efforts. 
 
 
 
Organizational Development 
 
 
 
¶3. (U) The GOH and HNP command continued to move toward the 
decision to start the next HNP Promotion (recruit class).  The 
promotion was tentatively scheduled to begin the end of December 
2009, or the first part of January 2010.  NAS-Haiti and contractor 
PAE will provide logistical support to the recruit class. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment: The GOH and HNP consistently display a pattern of 
indecisiveness in many areas related to organizational and 
professional development.  Consequently, the ability of NAS-Haiti 
and contractors PAE and DynCorp to provide timely support 
continually becomes compromised.  As previously noted in the 
November 2009 monthly report; the continuing inability of the GOH 
and HNP to properly plan, implement, and evaluate HNP-related 
budgetary requirements continues to hamper the HNP's ability to 
function on the administrative, operational, and logistical levels. 
End Comment. 
 
¶5. (U) The Wharf Soleil sub-commissariat project constructed by 
DynCorp was essentially complete at the end of December 2009. 
NAS-Haiti should be able to schedule an inauguration and transfer 
of control of the facility to the GOH/HNP by end of January, or 
first part of February 2010. 
 
¶6. (U) The academy instructors' barracks project is at the 95 
percent completion stage, pending the remediation of essential 
health and safety items related to railings in and around the 
buildings, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers.  Upon 
remediation of these issues, NAS-Haiti should be able to schedule 
an inauguration and transfer of control of the barracks by the end 
of January, or first of part of February 2010. 
 
Capacity Building 
 
¶7. (SBU) Cooperation between the U.S. Department of the Treasury 
Enforcement Team from the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) and 
Haiti's increasingly capable financial enforcement units resulted 
in the arrest of former Haiti Teleco officials Robert Antoine and 
Jean Rene Duperval for violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act.  Both men had held the post of Haiti Teleco's 
Director of International Relations in Florida and each was charged 
in U.S. court with conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The HNP 
Bureau des Affaires Financiers et Economiques (BAFE) participated 
in the arrest of Antoine and Duperval.  Haiti's financial 
intelligence unit, the Unit???? Centrale de Renseignements Financiers 
(UCREF), and the BAFE, a specialized component of the Haitian 
National Police, and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security 
provided significant cooperation and coordination in this 
investigation.  DCM Lindwall, NAS-Haiti Director Platt, RSO Steve 
Lesniak and his team, and OTA Advisor Fred Borakove worked in close 
coordination and consultation with the GOH during the execution of 
the two arrests. 
 
¶8. (U) On December 14, 2009, NAS-Haiti was informed by US UNPOL 
corrections officer Davos Francois that the infirmary had been 
occupied by inmates at the National Penitentiary without 
consultation with nor agreement from NAS.  The infirmary was being 
kept locked pending the installation of dental, x-ray and other 
medical equipment by USAID.  The installation work was scheduled to 
be completed by the end of January 2010, before the facility was to 
be transferred to the control of the Directorate of Prison 
Administration (DAP).  DAP personnel sanctioned the decision to 
break the locks on the infirmary, and moved 193 inmates into the 
infirmary during the evening of December 13, 2009. 
 
¶9. (U) NAS-Haiti sent a letter to DAP Director Celestin advising of 
 
the unauthorized occupation of the infirmary.  The letter formally 
requested DAP investigate and give a full accounting of the 
situation.  MOJ Denis was forwarded a copy of the letter. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Comment: The isolation ward and infirmary were 
constructed to provide treatment facilities to the inmate 
population in response to the high incidents of 
antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases.  When 
the isolation ward was initially transferred to the control of the 
DAP, it was immediately used to house inmates who had the means to 
buy their way into new accommodations, instead of being used for 
the intended humanitarian purpose of treating sick inmates.  DAP 
was advised by NAS-Haiti that the situation needed to be corrected, 
and the number of inmates who were not patients was reduced, but 
not totally eliminated.  In an effort to prevent a similar scenario 
with the infirmary, NAS/Haiti was not allowing access until the 
infirmary was completed and ready for use.  DAP's breach of the 
infirmary underscores ongoing concerns about its professionalism 
and ability to partner effectively with  international stakeholders 
in the GOH correctional sector.  End Comment. 
 
Stabilization Initiatives 
 
¶11. (U) NAS-Haiti continued to participate in meetings with the 
Haiti Stabilization Initiative (HSI) regarding the upcoming 
Martissant project.  NAS has submitted a draft Scope of Work (SOW) 
and is reviewing planning documents and a way forward for the 
project. 
 
¶12. (U) HSI Coordinator David Becker, NAS Platt, USAID's Carl 
Anderson and Gerard Fontain met with MOJ Paul Denis on December 17 
to review the Cite Soleil project and seek Haitian ministerial 
buy-in for the Martissant project.  HSI will follow up with a 
letter to the Minister detailing the project. 
 
Strategic Planning 
 
¶13. (U) On December 7, 2009, Ambassador Merten, NAS Lynne Platt and 
Police Advisor Frank Laskley met with MOJ Paul Denis to familiarize 
the new MOJ with NAS Haiti operations and capabilities.  Among 
other issues discussed, NAS Lynne Platt raised the question of 
obstacles to construction of a new women's prison at a 
previously-agreed location in Tabarre.  NAS Haiti followed up with 
a formal letter from the Ambassador to MOJ Denis advising of the 
history of the prison construction project and requesting his help 
with obtaining the land title needed before the project can get 
underway. 
 
¶14. (U) On December 11, 2009, NAS-Haiti met with the Stabilization 
and Reconstruction Task Force (START) of the Canadian Embassy. 
Joel Monfils the First Political Secretary shared information 
regarding START projects, and a discussion was held regarding how 
NAS-Haiti and START can better coordinate efforts to achieve 
maximum results and to reduce redundancy. 
 
¶15. (U) On December 28, 2009, NAS-Haiti Director Platt met with HNP 
DG Andresol for consultations regarding current and future HNP 
organizational development for the coming year.  Andresol agreed to 
receive New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly's assessment 
visit in early January and to host an event for the visiting 
delegation. 
 
¶16. (U) On December 31, 2009, NAS-Haiti Director Platt met with 
United Nations Joint Mission Analysis Center (JMAC) Chief Ray 
Baysden for consultations.  Baysden subsequently helped move into 
the UNPOL structure the request from NAS for the Brazilian 
Battalion to extend its security patrols in Cite Soleil to include 
the newly completed, but still unstaffed, Police Sub-Commissariat 
at Wharf Soleil. 
 
 ¶17. (U) NAS coordinated with USAID-Jamaica to reschedule the gang 
prosecution workshop to be offered to select HNP commanders and 
investigators and members of the Haitian judiciary.  The work shop 
will be led by Frank Ledee of the Office of the Attorney General of 
the State of Florida, and has been rescheduled for the end of 
January 2010. 
LINDWALL