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HaitiMarch 1998 OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of HaitiPROFILE Geography
Area: 27,750 sq. km. (10,714 sq. mi.); about the size of Maryland.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Haitian(s). Government
Type: Elected government. Economy
GNP (1997): $3.0 billion (unadjusted for inflation). PEOPLE Haiti is densely populated, with approximately 250 people per square kilometer (650 per sq. mi.). About 95% of the Haitians are of African descent; the rest of the population is mostly of mixed African-Caucasian ancestry. A few are of European or Levantine stock. About 70% of the people live in rural areas. French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken by only about 10% of the people. All Haitians speak Creole, the country's other official language. English is increasingly spoken among the young and in the business sector. The state religion is Roman Catholicism which most of the population professes. Some have been converted to Protestantism by missionaries active throughout the country. Haitians, however, tend to see no conflict with voodoo traditions of African origin co-existing with Christian faiths. Although public education is free, private and parochial schools provide perhaps 75% of educational programs offered. Only 63% of those enrolled will complete primary school; on average, it takes 16 years to produce a single graduate of the six-year cycle. Though Haitians place a high value on education, most families cannot afford to send their children to secondary school. Recent large-scale emigration to the U.S., and secondarily to Canada and Caribbean neighbors, has created what Haitians refer to as the Tenth Department. About one out of every six Haitians lives abroad. HISTORY The Spaniards used Hispaniola (of which Haiti is the western part and the Dominican Republic is the eastern) as a launching point to explore the rest of the Western Hemisphere. French buccaneers later used the western third of the island as a point from which to harass English and Spanish ships. In 1697, Spain ceded the western third of Hispaniola to France. As piracy was gradually suppressed, some French adventurers became planters, making Saint-Domingue--as the French portion of the island was then called--one of the richest colonies of the 18th century French empire. During this period, African slaves were brought to work the sugarcane and coffee plantations. In 1791, the slave population--led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe--revolted and gained control of the northern part of Saint-Domingue. In 1804, local forces defeated an army deployed by Napoleon Bonaparte, established independence from France, and renamed the area Haiti. The defeat of the French in Haiti is widely credited with contributing to Napoleon's decision to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1804. Haiti is the world's oldest black republic and the second-oldest republic after the United States in the Western Hemisphere. Haitians actively assisted the American Revolution and independence movements of Latin American countries. Two separate regimes (north and south) emerged after independence but were unified in 1820. Two years later, Haiti conquered Santo Domingo, the eastern, Spanish-speaking portion of Hispaniola. In 1844, however, Santo Domingo broke away from Haiti and became the Dominican Republic. With 22 changes of government from 1843 until 1915, Haiti experienced numerous periods of intense political and economic disorder, prompting United States military intervention in 1915. U.S. military forces were withdrawn in 1934 at the request of the elected Government of Haiti. From 1986--when the 30-year dictatorship of the Duvalier family ended--until 1991, Haiti was ruled by a series of provisional governments. In 1987, a constitution was adopted that provides for an elected bicameral parliament, an elected president who serves as head of state, and a prime minister, cabinet of ministers, and supreme court appointed by the president with Parliament's consent. The Haitian Constitution also provides for the election of mayors and administrative bodies responsible for local government. Aristide and the 1991 Coup d'Etat In December 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a charismatic Roman Catholic priest, won 67% of the vote in a presidential election that international observers deemed largely free and fair. Aristide took office in February 1991, but was overthrown by dissatisfied elements of the army and forced to leave the country in September of the same year. It is estimated that between 300 and 500 Haitians were killed in the days following the September coup, and 3,000 in the following three years. The coup created a large-scale exodus from the country; in fact, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a total of 41,342 Haitians from 1991 to 1992, more than the number of rescued refugees from the previous 10 years combined. From October 1991 to June 1992, Joseph Nerette, as president, led an unconstitutional de facto regime and governed with a parliamentary majority and the armed forces. In June 1992, he resigned and Parliament approved Marc Bazin as prime minister of a de facto government with no replacement named for president. Bazin sought to negotiate a solution with exiled President Aristide and to end the economic embargo and diplomatic isolation of Haiti imposed after Aristide's ouster. In June 1993, Bazin resigned and the UN imposed an oil and arms embargo, bringing the Haitian military to the negotiating table. Transition to Democracy President Aristide and Gen. Raoul Cedras, head of the Haitian armed forces, signed the UN-brokered Governors Island Agreement on July 3, 1993, establishing a 10-step process for the restoration of constitutional government and the return of President Aristide by October 30, 1993. As part of this process, Robert Malval was sworn in as Prime Minister on August 30, 1993. The military derailed the process and the UN reimposed economic sanctions. Malval resigned on December 15, 1993, but remained as acting Prime Minister for 11 more months. The political and human rights climate continued to deteriorate as the military and the de facto government sanctioned repression, assassination, torture, and rape in open defiance of the international community's condemnation. In May 1994, the military selected Supreme Court Justice Emile Jonassaint to be provisional president of its third de facto regime. The UN and the U.S. reacted to this extraconstitutional move by tightening economic sanctions (UN Resolution 917). On July 31, 1994, the UN adopted Resolution 940 authorizing member states to use all necessary means to facilitate the departure of Haiti's military leadership and restore constitutional rule and Aristide's presidency. In August 1994, Haiti had parallel governments, the illegitimate military-backed Jonassaint regime that controlled the government apparatus in Haiti, and the constitutional government, whose members, like President Aristide, were in exile or who, like acting Prime Minister Malval, were blocked from carrying out their duties. In the weeks that followed, the United States took the lead in forming a multinational force (MNF) to carry out the UN's mandate by means of a military intervention. In September, with U.S. troops prepared to enter Haiti in a matter of hours, President Clinton dispatched a negotiating team led by former President Jimmy Carter to discuss with the de facto Haitian leadership the terms of their departure. As a result, the MNF deployed peacefully, Cedras and other top military leaders left Haiti, and restoration of the legitimate government began, leading to Aristide's return on October 15. Current Conditions Elections for parliament and local government offices were held successfully between June and October 1995, although they were delayed by seven months and marred by serious administrative problems and some violence. President Aristide's Lavalas party and its affiliates swept into power at all levels. In the December 1995 presidential election, with Aristide barred by the Haitian Constitution from succeeding himself, prominent Lavalas figure Rene Preval (who was Aristide's first prime minister in 1991) overwhelmed his 13 opponents by garnering 88% of the vote and took office the following February. Territorial elections designed to decentralize political power were held in early April 1997. The government of Prime Minister Rosny Smarth resigned on June 9, 1997. He continued in caretaker status until November 1997. With the situation in Haiti gradually stabilizing, the international security presence has been reduced. The MNF, which at one time had more than 20,000 troops in Haiti, gave way in March 1995 to a UN peacekeeping mission (UN Mission in Haiti) under U.S. leadership, including about 6,000 troops. By mid-1996, the UN forces no longer included any U.S. military personnel, and the UN Special Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) had been scaled back to about 600 troops under Canadian leadership, as well as 300 international police monitors from six different countries. The UNSMIH mission, originally set to expire at the end of November 1996, was extended through July 31, 1997. The United Nations Transition Mission in Haiti (UNTMIH) replaced UNSMIH to November 30, 1997. The 12-month UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH) was established by the Security Council and began operations on December 1, 1997, after the conclusion of UNSMIH. Its 300 authorized civilian police (CIVPOL) are divided into two groups. Up to 160 CIVPOL mentors, including 30 U.S. police officers, are tasked with bringing the Haitian National Police (HNP) to levels of operational competence required before UN specialized agencies, including the UN Development Program (UNDP), can assume responsibility for further long-term institutional development. The remaining 140 CIVPOL are Argentine gendarmes who, as part of a special police unit (SPU), are on call to ensure the safety of CIVPOL from situations where HNP may not be able to do so. MIPONUH does not have a military element. The judicial system in Haiti is still weak and remains a high priority for international donors. USAID programs focus on improving administration in prosecutors' offices and the courts, establishing a case-tracking system, legal aid, and training for judges, court, and prosecutorial staff. International and Haitian officials are cooperating to investigate several high-profile murders that may have been politically motivated, including the murders of opposition politicians Antoine Leroy and Mireille Durocher Bertin. The U.S. Government helped the Government of Haiti set up a Special Investigative Unit within the Haitian National Police, and the investigation of several of these crimes is in progress. Steps have been taken to end the culture of impunity that has dominated Haiti for decades. The Office of Inspector General of the Haitian National Police investigates complaints against police officers, and around 200 have been dismissed. Training continues in an effort to build the fledgling National Police into a non-political, fully professional force committed to the rule of law. Principal Government Officials
President--Rene Preval The Embassy of Haiti is located at 2311 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-4090). ECONOMY Haiti's economic reform agenda under President Preval includes trade/tariff liberalization, modernization (understood to mean privatization) of state-owned enterprises, measures to control government expenditure and increase tax revenues, civil service downsizing, and financial sector reform. Structural adjustment agreements with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and other international financial institutions are aimed at creating necessary conditions for private sector growth. The government did show commitment to economic reform with the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies and the enactment of a "modernization" (privatization) law, along with the creation of the privatization council (CMEP), and the launching of its ambitious plan to privatize nine parastatals. The state-owned flour mill has been privatized, and privatization of the cement plant is in progress. Much of the population expected more immediate results from tough reforms. The views of former President Aristide, still popular, also influence discussions of economic reforms. President Aristide has been skeptical of economic reform, but he remains a popular figure in Haitian politics. External aid is essential to Haiti's future economic development. Haiti is the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. Comparisons of social and economic indicators show that Haiti has been falling behind other low-income developing countries (particularly in the hemisphere) since the 1980s. Haiti's economic stagnation is the result of earlier inappropriate economic policies, political instability, a shortage of good arable land, environmental deterioration, continued use of traditional technologies, undercapitalization, migration of large portions of the skilled population, and a weak national savings rate. The consequences of the 1991 coup d'etat and irresponsible economic and financial policies of the de facto authorities greatly accelerated Haiti's economic decline. Following the coup, the United States adopted mandatory sanctions, and the OAS instituted voluntary sanctions aimed at restoring constitutional government. International sanctions culminated in the May 1994 UN embargo of all goods entering Haiti except humanitarian supplies such as food and medicine. The assembly sector, heavily dependent on U.S. markets for its products, employed up to 80,000 workers in the mid-1980s. During the embargo, employment fell from 33,000 workers in 1991 to 400 in October 1994. Since the return of constitutional rule, assembly sector employment has gradually recovered to a level of nearly 20,000 in February 1998. Private domestic and foreign investment has been slow to return to Haiti. The investor community is concerned about political conditions and economic reform. International financial institutions and donor agencies have committed substantial sums to assist Haiti in restoring and expanding its physical infrastructure. High domestic interest rates and poorly developed internal capital markets are other factors restraining economic performance. As political stability increases in Haiti, tourism could take its place next to export-oriented manufacturing (the assembly sector) as a potential source of foreign exchange. Remittances from abroad now constitute a significant source of financial support for many Haitian households. Workers in Haiti are guaranteed the right of association, and trade organizing activities are protected by the labor code. A legal minimum wage of 36 gourdes a day (approximately U.S. $2.25) applies to most workers in the formal sector. FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT Haiti is one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies, as well as the Organization of American States (OAS). It maintains diplomatic relations with 37 countries. The international community rallied to Haiti's defense during the three years of illegal military rule from 1991 to 1994. In the end, a total of 31 countries participated in the U.S.-led MNF which, acting under UN auspices, intervened in September 1994 to help restore the legitimate government and create a secure and stable environment in Haiti. At its peak, the MNF had over 23,000 troops, mostly Americans, and more than 1,000 international police monitors. Within six months, the troop level was gradually reduced as the MNF was replaced smoothly by the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), consisting of some 6,000 UN peacekeeping troops and 900 civilian police, who were charged with maintaining the secure environment which the MNF had helped establish. A total of 38 countries participated in UNMIH. In order to spur Haiti's economic recovery, international development banks and donor agencies have pledged to provide over $2 billion in assistance by 1999, although much of this amount has not been disbursed. Disbursement is contingent on progress in economic reform. Major bilateral donors are led by the United States, with the largest bilateral assistance program, and include Canada, France, Germany, and Japan. Led by the U.S., the international community feeds 1.3 million Haitian people a day. USAID's food assistance program, PL 480, plays a large role in providing necessary food supplies to the population. U.S.-HAITI RELATIONS U.S. policy toward Haiti is designed to foster democracy, help alleviate poverty in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, and promote respect for human rights. As President Clinton stated on the eve of the U.S.-led intervention in 1994, "U.S. involvement was based on the need to protect our interests, to stop the brutal atrocities that threaten. . .Haitians; to secure our borders and to preserve stability and promote democracy in our hemisphere." The United States has taken a leading role in organizing international efforts at the United Nations, the Organization of American States, with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and individual countries to achieve these objectives. Maintaining good relations with and fostering democracy in Haiti are important for many reasons, not the least of which is its geographical proximity to the continental United States. In addition to a steady stream of legal immigrants in the U.S., tens of thousands of undocumented Haitian migrants were intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard during the 1991-94 period of illegal military rule. With the return of the de jure government in 1994, the flow of migrants has virtually stopped, although if unrest arises again, the potential remains for a mass influx of migrants yet again. Thus, the U.S. is determined to promote a stable democracy in Haiti--a country historically plagued by autocratic rule and recurring political violence. In addition, the U.S. provides relief to Haiti to prevent severe poverty, environmental degradation, and improve poor public health conditions. President Preval joined President Clinton and 14 other Caribbean leaders in May 1997 in Bridgetown, Barbados, for the first-ever U.S.-regional summit. The meeting strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics, finance and development, and trade. U.S. Economic and Development Assistance Many of Haiti's conditions can be attributed to its history of unstable regimes. To bolster the stability of Haiti's fragile democracy, the U.S. has led the effort to rebuild Haiti's economy. The U.S. has been the largest donor since 1973, with a total aid package of $135 million in FY 1996 and $101 million in FY 1997. In addition to financial support, the U.S. provides human resources. U.S. Peace Corps volunteers to Haiti returned in 1995. U.S. assistance provides support for democracy initiatives, agriculture, and improving health standards. Additional U.S. efforts include the establishment of the U.S.-Haiti Business Development Council, an Overseas Private Investment Corporation commercial loan program, and the Caribbean Basin Initiative, all providing greater market opportunities for American and Haitian businesses. Democratic gains cannot be sustained without demonstrable improvement in the economy and access to opportunities for Haiti's poor. For this reason, objectives of providing assistance to Haiti include policy reform and expanding credit availability. Initiatives advancing democratic processes and institutions, promoting economic recovery, reorienting humanitarian relief activities toward developmental activities, stemming environmental degradation, and enhancing agricultural yields and incomes, lay a solid foundation for political stability and sustainable development. The loss of between 50,000 to 70,000 jobs in the formal sector alone since 1991 provides perspective on the challenges the government faces in revitalizing the economy. Notwithstanding this challenge, efforts to increase commercial bank lending in productive activities in the agricultural sector through guarantees have already resulted in thousands of new jobs for unemployed Haitian agricultural workers. A transitional program has also been established to ease rural mass unemployment which employed as many as 50,000 workers per day. To combat unemployment, the U.S. helped secure an additional $55 million from the World Bank to continue a highly successful job creation program started with $35 million from USAID. Humanitarian assistance from Haitian and U.S. NGOs includes food for up to 1 million Haitians and helps reinforce the planning and management capacities of the Ministry of Public Health and Population. In addition to sponsoring vaccination programs, the U.S. Government has financed basic health care services accessed by more than 2 million people. Health services are also provided for child survival, reproductive health, and rape victims. By providing economic assistance, the U.S. seeks to improve the quality of life for Haitians. Security Assistance The Government of Haiti is committed to the success of the Haitian National Police (HNP). More than 6,000 recruits have completed training in modern law enforcement. U.S. instructors from the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) are providing specialized training to select HNP officers in such areas as crowd control, operation of firearms, and VIP protection. Most importantly, experts within ICITAP are working closely with the Haitian Government in recruiting and training qualified individuals to fill mid-level supervisory positions. Finally, the U.S. provided equipment to support the HNP. U.S. Business Opportunities The U.S. has been and remains Haiti's largest trading partner. A number of U.S. firms, including banks, airlines, oil companies, agribusiness, and U.S.-owned assembly plants, maintain a strong economic presence in this new democracy. Further opportunities for U.S. businesses include the development and trade of medical supplies and equipment, rebuilding and modernizing Haiti's depleted infrastructure, tourism, waste disposal, transportation, energy, telecommunications, and export assembly operations. Because of the assembly sector's importance, opportunities exist for U.S. exporters to supply this industry. Primary inputs include textiles, electronics components, packaging materials, and raw materials used in the manufacture of toys and sporting goods. Other U.S. export prospects include construction materials, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and lumber. Benefits for both Haitian and American importers and exporters are available under the 806 and 807/HTSUS Programs (U.S. Customs laws on products assembled from U.S. components or materials), and under the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Markets exist for four-wheel-drive vehicles, consumer electronics, rice, wheat, flour, sugar, and processed foodstuffs. The government wants to reactivate and develop agricultural industries where Haiti enjoys considerable comparative advantages, among which are essential oils, spices, fruits and vegetables, and sisal. The government encourages the inflow of new capital and technological innovations. Establishing a Business For foreigners to set up a business in Haiti, one must obtain a residence visa, and a transient businessman or woman must have a locally licensed agent to conduct business transactions within the country. Requirements for individuals wishing to practice a trade in Haiti include obtaining an immigrant visa from a Haitian Consulate; obtaining a work permit, with some exceptions; and all transient and resident traders must have a professional ID card. Property restrictions still exist for foreign individuals. Property rights of foreigners are limited to 1.29 hectares in urban areas and 6.45 hectares in rural areas. No foreigner may own more than one residence in the same district nor own property or buildings near the border. To own real estate, authorization from the Ministry of Justice is necessary. Hurdles for businesses in Haiti include poor infrastructure, crime, a high-cost port, and customs delays. The government places a 30% withholding tax on all profits received. There is little direct investment, though more is incoming than outgoing (see Economy). Foreign investment protection is provided by the constitution of 1987, which permits expropriation of private property for public use or land reform with payment in advance. American firms enjoy free transfer of interest, dividends, profits, and other revenues stemming from their investments, and are guaranteed just compensation paid in advance of expropriation, as well as compensation in case of damages or losses caused by war, revolution, or insurrection. Policy Background After the September 1991 coup d'etat ousted Haiti's democratically elected government, the United States was pressured to take action. The United States imposed a series of economic sanctions on Haiti, followed by the OAS and ultimately the UN adopting a series of economic sanctions aimed at restoring constitutional rule to the country. As political conditions worsened, however, the United States intervened militarily in Haiti under UN auspices with Operation Uphold Democracy. Launched on September 19, 1994, Operation Uphold Democracy's aim was initially to restore Haiti's democratically elected government, and later to establish and maintain a safe and secure environment for institutional reform and democracy (see History). A peaceful operation set the stage for a multinational force to be established. The U.S. has supported training for police personnel and judicial officials and the reform of the court and prison systems. The U.S., along with the international financial institutions, has encouraged the privatization of inefficient parastatals. The U.S. has also encouraged open markets in the Haitian economy. Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Timothy M. Carney The U.S. Embassy in Haiti is located on Harry Truman Blvd., Port-au-Prince (tel: (509) 22-0200; (fax: (509) 23-1641). OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
U.S. Department of Commerce
Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean/Latin American Action
Association des Industries d'Haiti (ADIH)
Centre Pour la Livre Entreprise et la Democratie (CLED)
Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie d'Haiti
Haitian American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HAMCHAM) TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on immigration practices, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas which pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov and the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB). To access CABB, dial the modem number: (301-946-4400 (it will accommodate up to 33,600 bps), set terminal communications program to N-8-1 (no parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit); and terminal emulation to VT100. The login is travel and the password is info (Note: Lower case is required). The CABB also carries international security information from the Overseas Security Advisory Council and Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Consular Affairs Trips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954; telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250. Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-4000. Passport Services information can be obtained by calling the 24-hour, 7-day a week automated system ($.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday ($1.05 per minute). The number is 1-900-225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778). Major credit card users (for a flat rate of $4.95) may call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888-498-3648). Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at (404) 332-4559 gives the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800. Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication). U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register at the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country (see "Principal U.S. Embassy Officials" listing in this publication). Registering with the embassy may help you to replace lost identity documents or help family members contact you in case of an emergency. Further Electronic Information: Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Available on the Internet, DOSFAN provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information. Updated daily, DOSFAN includes Background Notes; Dispatch, the official magazine of U.S. foreign policy; daily press briefings; Country Commercial Guides; directories of key officers of foreign service posts; etc. DOSFAN's World Wide Web site is at http://www.state.gov. U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USFAC). Published on an annual basis by the U.S. Department of State, USFAC archives information on the Department of State Foreign Affairs Network, and includes an array of official foreign policy information from 1990 to the present. Contact the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202) 512-1800 or fax (202) 512-2250. National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). Operated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the NTDB contains a wealth of trade-related information, including Country Commercial Guides. It is available on the Internet (www.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the NTDB Help-Line at (202) 482-1986 for more information.
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