US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE1598

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001598 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
DS/DSS/ITA 
DSERCC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, HA, Haitian National Police 
SUBJECT: OAS TO HANDOVER VETTING PROGRAM TO CIVPOL 
 
 
1. (U) Summary: PolOff and Embassy Police Advisor met with 
OAS Ambassador Denneth Modeste on May 30 to discuss the 
vetting program for new Haitian National Police (HNP) 
recruits administered by the OAS and funded by the United 
States. The two agreed to phase out OAS administration of the 
program and to handover the vetting project to MINUSTAH and 
the HNP. End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Police Advisor presented an exit strategy for 
the OAS to pass responsibility for the vetting program to 
MINUSTAH CIVPOL by December 2005 when U.S. funding ends. 
According to the strategy, post will seek an MOU with the 
OAS, the UN and the HNP to create a permanent program for 
vetting including permanent staff and offices. During the 
final six months of the OAS administered program, CIVPOL 
would appoint a shadow director who will work with the 
current program administrator, Guy Magny, while contracts for 
the other OAS vetting staff are phased out. Ambassador 
Modeste agreed to the strategy and said that all five current 
contracts for OAS vetting personnel will expire June 30. One 
contract will not be renewed (Richard Chevalier) and the 
other four will expire gradually over a period of six months, 
with all contracts finishing by December 31, 2005. 
 
3. (SBU) Modeste said the OAS has tried previously to share 
responsibilities with CIVPOL but the results had been 
"disappointing." He also complained that IGOH/HNP support for 
the program was weak and that he wanted to use the next six 
months as an opportunity to convince both the HNP and CIVPOL 
of the reality that recruitment and quality control were part 
of their mandate. The Police Advisor agreed that the program 
had its flaws, primarily due to the complete lack of 
reporting and record-keeping in Haiti, but that it was vital 
to continue and improve the process, including computerizing 
the program and expanding the background checks. He said the 
U.S. had approved new money for FY05 specifically for 
background interviews of existing officers. 
 
4. (SBU) Separately, CIVPOL has agreed to appoint a 
coordinator to work with the OAS team to manage the handover 
of the vetting program to CIVPOL by December 2005 (septel). 
 
FOLEY