JAMAICANS INTERESTED IN PURSUING PARTNERSHIP FOR

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000533

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR JM
SUBJECT: JAMAICANS INTERESTED IN PURSUING PARTNERSHIP FOR
AIRCRAFT DISINSECTION

REF: A. 04 STATE 163696


B. 04 STATE 253001

C. KINGSTON 3136


1. On 22 February, after seven months of repeated attempts by
Embassy to obtain a reply from the Ministry of Health (MOH)
to Ref A request, post received a letter, dated 16 February,
containing the MOH response to the US Department of
Transportation's (USDOT) invitation to join a disinsection
pilot project. Complete text of MOH letter is at Paragraph 3.


2. The letter, signed by Dr. Barrington Wint, Chief Medical
Officer, is actually in reply to a follow-up letter sent to
Wint by Econoff on 17 December 2004, seeking a reply to Ref B
request. Wint's letter states that "the Ministry of Health
is willing to cooperate with the US Government, Department of
Transportation, in the piloting of the (air curtain)
technology at the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport."
Wint further wrote that the MOH would like to form a working
group with USDOT to work out the issues involved, and names
Mr. Peter Knight, Director of the Environmental Health Unit,
as the MOH representative.


3. Begin text of MOH response letter:
Dear Mr. Salzman

RE: AIR CURTAIN TECHNOLOGY

I refer to your letter dated 2004 December 17 in which you
proposed collaboration between the United States of America
and Jamaica Government to implement a pilot project to test
the air curtain technology.

The Ministry of Health is willing to cooperate with the US
Government, Department of Transportation in the piloting of
the technology at the Sir Donald Sangster International
Airport.

We support your decision to establish a working group since
there are several stakeholders who would need to be involved
and many issues to be discussed.

Our representative would be Mr. Peter Knight, Director,
Environmental Health Unit in this Ministry.

We anticipate a mutually rewarding collaboration.

Yours truly

Barrington Wint (Dr.)
Chief Medical Officer

cc: Mrs. Grace Allen-Young, Permanent Secretary
Dr. Deanna Ashley, Director, Health Promotion & Protection
Mr. Peter Knight, Director, Environmental Health Unit

End text.
TIGHE