Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04NASSAU1837
2004-10-01 16:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

CHRISTIE WANTS TO BE THE TONY BLAIR OF CARICOM

Tags:  PREL PGOV BF CARICOM 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001837 

SIPDIS

NORTHCOM AND SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BF CARICOM
SUBJECT: CHRISTIE WANTS TO BE THE TONY BLAIR OF CARICOM


Classified By: DCM Robert M. Witajewski, Reasons 1.4 b and d

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 001837

SIPDIS

NORTHCOM AND SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BF CARICOM
SUBJECT: CHRISTIE WANTS TO BE THE TONY BLAIR OF CARICOM


Classified By: DCM Robert M. Witajewski, Reasons 1.4 b and d

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) PM Perry Christie confidant Franklyn Wilson argued
during a September 30 luncheon that the U.S. should support
Christie's hope to become a regional leader since the
Bahamian Prime Minister was America's "Tony Blair" inside
Caricom. Wilson again raised the Prime Minister's belief
that he was ignored and left exposed by the United States
during events surrounding the resignation of Haitian
ex-President Aristide and that he should have been consulted
by senior USG officials. Wilson claimed, however, that
Christie bore "no grudges" at being left out of the loop by
the U.S. and Canada.
End Summary


I CAN BE YOUR BLAIR IN THE CARIBBEAN
--------------


2. (C) During a small lunch hosted by Ambassador on
September 30, prominent Bahamian businessman and Perry
Christie financier and confidant Franklyn Wilson argued
passionately that Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie
wanted to become America's "Tony Blair" within Caricom. The
luncheon, arranged by the Deputy Chief of Mission, was
nominally in honor of the newly-named president of the
College of The Bahamas, Rodney Smith.


3. (C) Mr. Wilson emotionally presented the case for Perry
Christie, calling him the United States' "best friend" inside
Caricom's councils. He said that Christie's personality and
manner made it possible for him to become friends with
everyone -- including President Bush -- and thereby exert a
moderating and calming influence within Caricom to counter
the proclivities of that body's more extreme members.
Comparing Christie to the country's first PLP prime minister,
Sir Lynden Pindling, Wilson declared that back in the early
1970's, many of the region's first post-independence leaders
"were a half-step from being communists...preaching socialism
and national planning" while Pindling -- misunderstood by the
United States -- was, in reality "only a half-step from being
a conservative." Pindling, insisted Wilson, quietly and
effectively served as a moderating influence during that era
and thus served U.S. strategic interests. What was true some

thirty years ago, argued Wilson, was equally true today.


4. (C) The United States, continued Wilson, needed to
ignore tactical deviations and remember that strategically
Perry Christie was America's best friend and supporter in the
region. "(The United States) should keep its eye on its
(strategic) goal," Wilson declared several times, and should
support and enhance Christie's stature within Caricom in its
own best self-interest. Just as British Prime Minister Tony
Blair was the United States' chief supporter in Europe. DCM
pointed out to Wilson that Blair's influence came because he
took a leadership role as British Prime Minister despite, not
because of, Britain's membership in the EU and that the EU's
support of U.S. policies in Iraq and elsewhere have been much
more restrained and lukewarm than have Britain's.


MONTHS LATER, STILL CLAIMING NOT TO BE UPSET
--------------



5. (C) Addressing the issue of Haiti, Wilson, a long-time
Perry Christie supporter and PLP financial backer, yet again
claimed that despite feeling that he had been "ignored" by
the United States during the departure of Haitian
ex-President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Prime Minister Christie
harbored no grudges and was not upset. Echoing similar
statements from Christie insiders over the months, Wilson did
go on to express the view that Christie believes that he was
in the forefront of the Caricom effort to persuade the
ex-President to peacefully resign his office. Given his
leadership role in the effort, argued Wilson, the United
States owed it to Christie to have received a call from
senior USG officials, or the White House, advising him "when
the United States decided to change direction on Aristide"
and "remove him from power." DCM reminded Mr. Wilson that he
had been briefed on the rapid spiral of breaking events that
weekend, noted -- again -- that Caricom was not an
organization well suited to handling crises, and that given
the press of events that Saturday night/Sunday morning, it
was unrealistic to have expected the Secretary or the
President to have phoned thirteen heads of government to
brief them on rapidly-breaking events. Wilson responded that
Christie had at least been able to have his call to the
Canadian Prime Minister returned by "Canada's Condolecia
(sic) Rice."


6. (U) Echoing PM Christie's position, and reflecting
continuing Bahamian Government skepticism about Aristide's
departure, in his speech to the UN General Assembly September
30, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell similarly claimed that "No
one will ever know what truly happened on that night as an
elected president left his country with armed rebels nipping
at his heels, but it filled the entire Caribbean with
sadness. It has raised the spectre of mistrust between
friends."


CHRISTIE ADDRESSING AMERICAS CONFERENCE
--------------


7. (C) Noting that Prime Minister Christie was scheduled to
be the principal speaker at a morning session October 1 at
the Miami Herald's annual Americas Conference, Ambassador
expressed the hope that the Prime Minister would take a
positive position that reflected the deep, long-standing, and
overall positive relationship between the United States and
the region.


8. (C) The theme of Christie's remarks at the conference are
"Friend or Foe? Can the Caribbean and the U.S. Repair Their
Damaged Relations?" Speaking with DCM at the Chinese
National Day reception September 30, shortly before flying to
Miami, Christie feigned surprise and dismay "at the topic
they assigned me." DCM took the opportunity to reiterate
Ambassador's hope that he would use his spotlight to focus on
the overwhelmingly positive bilateral and mutually beneficial
multilateral regional relationship and not engage in an
unproductive negative analysis.


COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Franklyn Wilson is one of the wealthiest black
Bahamians. He has been closely identified with the PLP
throughout his entire life and holds The Bahamas' first
post-independent Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling, in a
status close to sainthood. He is a member of the Christie
"kitchen cabinet." Wilson's wife, Sharon, is president of
the Bahamian Senate. Wilson is also one of the PLP's
principal financiers and fund raisers. He is accustomed to
serving as a transmission belt both to send, and to receive,
messages intended for the Prime Minister.


10. (C) Months after ex-President Aristide's departure, that
both Prime Minister Perry Christie and Foreign Minister Fred
Mitchell continue to volunteer denials that they don't feel
"dissed" and left hanging on a limb by not being consulted by
the United States during the hours leading up to Aristide's
departure after they took what they perceive to be a leading
role in advocating the U.S. position within Caricom, are as
convincing as Caesar's thrice refusal of Rome's imperial
crown. Christie's spotlight at the Miami Herald conference
will give him the opportunity to advance his long-expressed
desire to assume a role as Caricom's leading statesman.
Whether he will take full advantage of this opportunity
remains to be seen.

WITAJEWSKI