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FOIA Number: 2013-0983-F FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff. Collection/Record Group: Clinton Presidential Records Subgroup/Office of Origin: Records Management - SUBJECT FILE Series/Staff Member: Subject Files Subseries: OA/ID Number: 21688 Scan ID: 238772SS Document Number: Folder Title: CO072 Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: S 83 5 5 1 THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION %\^^^^ WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 '^'"'^^Esc^'^ October 14, 1997 m mmim HAS sm. I o - - =\ —) MEMORANDUM TO: The President - ' lb HH i 1: ^2 FROM: Rodney E. Slater ( SUBJECT: Visit to Haiti On July 28-29, 1997,1 went to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to follow up on the discussions you had with Haitian President Rene Preval in Barbados on May 10, 1997, regarding Haiti's infrastructure needs. I am pleased to report that I was able to have very substantive and candid discussions with President Preval and other Haitian officials, including the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communication. We discussed the state of Haiti's infrastructure and its relationship to the success of Haiti's economic development; the status of security at the Port-au- Prince Airport; and follow up U.S. assistance. I promised to send DOT experts to assess Haitian transportation infrastructure needs generally and to help construct a long-term infrastructure unprovement plan, as well as conduct a seaport assessment, with a focus on Port-au-Prince. With respect to security at the airport, I committed to send an FAA security expert to serve as a technical advisor for a 30-45-day period to help assess airport security. I also noted the U.S. Coast Guard's ongoing development of the Haitian Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration's work on civil aviation issues in Haiti, and indicated that these cooperative efforts would continue. During a meeting with the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce, I took the opportunity to reiterate your commitment to Haiti's economic development. I also stated my own commitment as Transportation Secretary to assist with the critical infrastructure foundation that facilitates economic growth. I noted that infrastructure rehabilitation is vital to reducing the costs of doing business and can lead to future job growth. The Haitian officials described the status of their privatization efibrts, particularly planned flour and cement enterprises, as well as stumbling blocks that they face. I specifically mentioned the importance of completing Haiti's privatization program. I personally toured the Port-au-Prince Airport and the Haitian Coast Guard base, where the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Dallas and Manitou were making a port call. I met with Leon Charles, Haitian National Police Coast Guard Commissaire, as well as U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard training teams, and I announced that the United States would provide assistance to the refurbishing of several Haitian Coast Guard vessels. By helicopter, I also viewed the Northwest Bypass Road which should facilitate traffic to and from the Port-au-Prince docks when completed with World Bank fimding. Although Haiti has made some significant strides over the past few years toward democratic reform, political infighting and other impediments to progress are deep-rooted and present a formidable obstacle to making any measurable improvements in the economy and in key institutions. My Department, however, is committed to providing assistance as deemed appropriate and as allowed by the Haitian Govemment. Accordingly, progress has begun on many of the commitments made during my visit. A summary of follow up action items from the trip and a status update on each of them is attached. Attachment Follow up Action Items 1. Possibly as early as September, DOT will send technical experts to Haiti to provide a comprehensive assessment of Haiti's infrastructure needs, including the road network, airports, and seaports. The assessment will include examination of contraband and customs issues affecting port vulnerabilities, and that effort will be coordinated with the appropriate U.S. Federal agencies. It was agreed that the technical assistance team would also study the issue of making available U.S. bills of lading to Haitian Customs authorities to assist with underdeclaration detection. This effort would be undertaken in concert with an existing team of Haitian infrastructure experts and could be fiinded using resources available through intemational agencies. DOT could dispatch a team to conduct a maritime port smuggling and contraband control assessment within two or three weeks; the assessment is focused on Port-au-Prince and will be followed by a muhiagency port assessment to be completed by the end of the year. Other DOT technical experts could visit Haiti by September. STATUS: DOT reassessed its original concept and decided that, rather than sending a single team to Haiti, it will send several groups of experts on individual transportation sectors. A DOT team conducted the first phase of a maritime port smuggling and contraband control assessment August 7-21,1997, which focused on Port-au-Prince. The second phase, the multiagency port assessment, is scheduled to begin in early October with an interim report to be completed by the end of 1997. DOT experts in the highway, ports, and transit areas have been identified to begin other assessments. In the roads area, the FHWA will develop a list of available funding sources, procedures for applying for funds, and what conditions Haiti must meet to qualify for funding. We will also explore ways in which DOT can participate in Haiti's current road improvement efforts. In the transit area, DOT is trying to locate useable buses from private industry sources and from the Defense Department that could be used in Haiti. Finally, we are developing a port security assessment with other Federal agencies. 2. The FAA will send a security consultant to Haiti for 30-45 days to evaluate airport security needs. STATUS: An agreement was signed by the FAA and Haitian officials regarding this effort. The consultant began work in Haiti on September 15, 1997, and will remain in Haiti for a 3D-day period. 3. The two countries will move ahead with negotiations aimed at concluding a bilateral maritime agreement. Of the six major items under discussion, agreement has been reached on five. Negotiations will begin on August 25, and an agreement could be concluded before September 10. STATUS: Negotiations began on August 26 and concluded on September 2, but the Haitian version of the agreement was a disappointment to us. We are currently assessing what the next steps should be in order to move this effort forward. 4. The U.S. Coast Guard will offer one four-year space for a qualified Haitian candidate in an upcoming class at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. STATUS: The Coast Guard Academy notification went out to all countries, including Haiti, on September 12,1997. If Haiti nominates a qualified candidate, he or she will be accepted. 5. The USSOUTHCOM study on Port-au-Prince bypass road is to be made available to DOT for review. STATUS: We have requested a copy of the report, which is a general roads study. When we receive it, our FHWA experts will review it. 6. Haiti's request for airport radar equipment will be reviewed and considered once the FAA's findings regarding safety and security matters at the Port-au-Prince Airport are addressed. STATUS: We are reviewing the feasibility of various satellite options for Haiti pending Haiti's progress on safety and security at the Port-au-Prince Airport. THE REMAINING ACTION ITEMS ARE BEING ADDRESSED BY THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PORT-AU-PRINCE. 7. The Department of Defense's Excess Property Office will be forwarded Haiti's request for heavy road-building equipment for use in building its mral roads.. 8. Haiti will explore the feasibility of extending for one year the existing helicopter contract used to support the Haitian National Police's emergency airlift capacity. 9. The U.S. Embassy will assist Haiti in disposing of disabled aircraft parked at the Port-au-Prince airport once it is determined to whom the aircraft belong, and requests to owners of those aircraft to remove them have been made and not satisfied. .