INSPECTION OF EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA (ISP-I-02-26)

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000407

SIPDIS

FOR OIG/ISP - COMPLIANCE OFFICER WILLIS

INFO: WHA/EX, WHA/CEN, HR/OE, CA/EX AND INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASIG AMGT APER CMGT SNAR HN
SUBJECT: INSPECTION OF EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA (ISP-I-02-26)

REF: A) 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001775
B) 02 STATE 180302
C) 03 STATE 023800


1. Ref C requests a compliance update on OIG's post
inspection of Embassy Tegucigalpa, ref: ISP-I-02-26. The
inspection was completed in February 2001 and has been in
the compliance reporting phase since that time.


2. Embassy is providing additional information on the
outstanding recommendations. We are not repeating all
past exchanges for each recommendation -- only the
original recommendation itself is repeated for your
reference.


3. Recommendation 2: The department should endorse
embassy Tegucigalpa's request for two additional Drug
Enforcement Administration special agents. Action: INL,
in Consultation with Embassy Tegucigalpa.

Updated post response: In ref A post provided background
Information to INL on the need for these agents. We also
included the new positions in the past two Mission
Performance Plans for Honduras. We await further action
by the INL bureau.


4. Recommendation 5: Embassy Tegucigalpa, in
coordination with the department, should establish
another junior officer position to do non-immigrant and
immigrant visa Work. Action: Embassy Tegucigalpa and
CA/EX.

Updated post response: CA/EX has established and filled
a new Consular JO position. The new officer will arrive
in March 2003. We assume that CA and WHA will add the
necessary position support costs to our budget base this
fiscal year.


5. Recommendation 6: Embassy Tegucigalpa, in
coordination with the Department, should authorize
another consular FSN position to handle correspondence
and public inquiries. Action: Embassy Tegucigalpa and
CA/EX.

Updated post response: As stated in Ref A and
previously, post is willing to establish a new PSA
position. Between WHA and CA, funding issues need to be
addressed so that post will have the ongoing program or
MRV budget money to fill this position.


6. Recommendation 10: Embassy Tegucigalpa, in
coordination with the Department, should phase out
personnel management services provided to Joint Task
Force Bravo for their host country employees. Action:
Embassy Tegucigalpa, in coordination with HR/OE.

Updated post response: In late September 2002, the
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources
(M/DGHR/OE),with the concurrence of OIG/ISP, signed a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Undersecretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Under the new MOA,
State agrees to exercise its PSA hiring authority for an
additional two-years with respect to the 62 Honduran
nationals working at JTF Bravo, with the understanding
that Defense will seek its own PSA authority from the
Congress during that time period. Human resources
management services for the JTF Bravo Honduran employees
will continue under the US Mission's existing ICASS
arrangements until September 30, 2004.

PALMER