TALKING POINTS ON HAITI IMPLICATIONS OF FOOD SHORTAGES AND VIOLENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100190021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 23, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: June 23, 1986
• Content Type: MISC

I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/30: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100190021-9
25X1
June 23, 1986
TALKING POINTS ON HAITI
IMPLICATIONS OF FOOD SHORTAGES AND VIOLENCE
Widespread hunger and extreme poverty have been charac-
teristic of Haiti for decades.
-- Under the Duvaliers, impoverished individuals
generally accepted their conditions or
attempted to emigrate to the US.
-- With Duvalier's ouster, however, the poor no
longer fear retribution and are increasingly
demanding food and employment. On occasion,
expression of these demands has led to
violence.
The ruling council is movin to stabili and
revitalize business confidpnnp-
-- The government recently concluded preliminary
negotiations with the IMF for a $21 m- ion
three-year Structural A bus ment aci i y at
could be in place by late September.
-- The ruling council recently established new
commissions and issu -traTrdi e
has increased at an
Even so the effects of the government's actions, will not be
noticeable in the short term.
-- The lack of visible progress, particularly in
the availability of food and jobs, is a
principal reason insignificant issues can
quickly cause widespread unrest.
Embassy contacts uniformly report that
alarming rate since February.
Economic distress has forced some people to
resort to criminal activity to survive.
The release of several hundred prisoners by
former Minister of Justice Gerard Gourgue in
April resulted in many hardened criminals
returning to the streets.
The return of street tough expatriates from
New York, Miami, and other US cities introduced
another lawless element into the equation.
'I Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/30: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100190021-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/30: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100190021-9
The Haitian government is aware of the political threat that
hunger, poverty, and increasing crime pose, but does not have the
resources to remedy the situation.
provide jo s, or financial assistanc
t
e
o the
or, and must depend on foreign aid for
relief.
-- A large quantity of wheat arrived
e ay, u e US
trans Y"rLa n distribution were delayed
because most of the Army's vehicles were in
poor state of repair.
Although surface calm currently prevails, Haitian cities
remain tinderboxes ready to explode.
... a..c .71.. U11LeSL In
the extremely depressed 4-y7 -4
h
- ??. ......
unge that is rampant and
particularly acute there.
Because Gonaives is the itili where independence
was pro acme in 1804 and where the movement
to oust Duvalier began last year, conditions
t1lere aye a specla po c cca significance:
Haitians nationwide look to Gonaives for
political guidance and inspiration.
inhabitants of Port-au-Prince's
sprawling slum areas are the most
volatile segment of the capital's population.
Leftist agitators frequently are taking advantage of the
situation to turn minor disputes into protests against the
government and, on occasion the US.
-- Individuals frustrated by economic difficulties
are becoming increasingly susceptible to
propaganda that the U.S. is at fault for
Haiti's current condition.
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/30: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100190021-9