IERRE-CHARLES; Open the Gate Party
(PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN; Haitian National Democratic Progressive
Party (PNDPH), Turneb DELPE

Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade
Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular
Assembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, Caricom
(observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean CASIMIR
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING
embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612
FAX: [509] 23-1641

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a
centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a
palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing
the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Economy
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Economic overview: About 75% of the population lives in abject
poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture
sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and
employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The
country has experienced only moderate job creation since President
ARISTIDE was returned to power in October 1994. Failure to reach
agreement with multilateral lenders in late 1995 led to rising
deficit spending and subsequently increasing inflation and a drop in
the value of the Haitian currency in the final months of 1995.
Potential investors, both foreign and domestic, have been reluctant
to risk their capital, planning to "wait and see" what happens in
the months following the inauguration of newly elected President
Rene PREVAL and the drawdown of UN peacekeeping forces. The PREVAL
government will have to grapple with implementing nece