INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PREPARES TO STEP UP INTO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001315 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS RELEASABLE TO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, UNITED KINGDOM DEPT FOR WHA/CAR MICHAEL FORTIN DEPT FOR INL SERGIO GARCIA DEPT PASS TO DHS FOR JAMES (BRAD) KIDWELL DEPT PASS TO CBP FOR CHARLES BARTOLDUS SECDEF PASS TO JCS SECDEF PASS TO OSD SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016 TAGS: ASEC CPAS PINR PTER AFIN UNSC USOAS XL SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PREPARES TO STEP UP INTO THE CREASE IN SUPPORT OF CWC 2007 REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 910 ¶B. BRIDGETOWN 1286 Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The first meeting of the International Support and Advisory Group (ISAG) for Cricket World Cup 2007 was held July 26-27 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The objective of the meeting was to pull together an informal group composed of hosting and playing nations and the international community to achieve rapid results supporting public safety planning and coordination for CWC. Despite some gaping holes in the Regional Security Plan, developed without any external input, and an eight-page list of resources needed from the international community, the meeting was generally perceived as a success. Results included greater consensus and specific action items for both the hosting nations and the international community. Progress was also made on the margins regarding implementation of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and the Caribbean Regional Maritime Agreement (CRMA). End Summary. -------------- PARTICIPANTS -------------- ¶2. (U) CARICOM for CWC: Jamaica Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips (ISAG Chair),Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Barbados former Senator Phillip Goddard (Science, Technology and International Investment Advisor to Barbados PM Arthur),and representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC),the Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS),the CARICOM Operations Planning Agency for Crime and Security (COPACS),the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA),the Regional Security System (RSS) and officials from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. International Delegations: Canadian High Commissioner Michael Welch, British High Commissioner Duncan Taylor, Australian High Commissioner John Michell (resident in Port of Spain), South African Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Prius, Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik (resident in Ottawa), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO),Interpol, and a representative from New Zealand. U.S. from Bridgetown: Head of Delegation Ambassador Mary Kramer, Deputy Chief of Mission Mary Ellen Gilroy, Deputy Consul General Laurie Major, Consul General Clyde Howard, Regional Security Officer Robert Starnes, Military Liaison Office Commander Patrick (Kofi) Aboagye and Political Officer Shannon E. Runyon (notetaker). Washington-based Members: State WHA/CAR Michael Fortin, State INL Sergio Garcia; Customs and Border Protection Executive Director Charles Bartoldus; Department of Homeland Security James (Brad) Kidwell; and Coast Guard Captain Michael Jett (Miami). -------------- ISAG -------------- ¶3. (U) Caribbean and international community representatives met July 26-27 in Bridgetown, Barbados to discuss plans for ensuring public safety in advance of and during Cricket World Cup (CWC) which will be hosted in nine Caribbean countries March-April 2007. Dr. Peter Phillips of Jamaica chaired this first meeting of the International Support and Advisory Group (ISAG),with the assistance of Duncan Jarrett and Franchesca Flessatti. (NOTE: HMG detailed Jarrett from Scotland Yard and Flessatti from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to CARICOM to advise on and coordinate the ISAG. Both were assigned to the British Embassy in Athens 2000-2004 and were active members of the security and public safety advisory group organized by embassies in Athens prior to the 2004 Olympics. End Note.) ¶4. (U) NOTE: Warm-up and cup matches will be held March 5 - April 28 on Antigua, Barbados (Finals and Closing Ceremony), Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica (Opening Ceremony),St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad. Dominica will not host matches, but will provide ancillary support. End Note. ¶5. (U) The combined sessions included brief discussions of lessons learned in preparations in Greece for the 2004 Olympics and in South Africa for CWC 2003. Local police and defense officers presented overviews of their internal assessments of threats and needs. The group acknowledged that no country could host an international event of this magnitude in isolation and that all parties had a common purpose in ensuring public safety. The small size of the hosting nations, their limited human and financial resources, and logistical issues related to hosting an international event in nine independent nations adds significantly to the planning challenges. Nevertheless, it was emphasized that this was not a donors' conference. Time was noted as the greatest foe. ¶6. (C) In private session, the ISAG discussed the need to manage the expectations of the hosting nations, and to shift their focus away from acquiring new assets and toward fitting existing assets into the regional security plan. The ISAG agreed that, rather than fulfilling the extensive eight-page wish list, its goal would be to build on foundations already laid and leave legacy programs, such as the DHS-sponsored Advance Passenger Information System (APIS),in place for future use. ISAG was identified as the appropriate vehicle to offer all advice and constructive criticism, so that no one nation would be singled out as "the bully." -------------- SIX POSITIVE OUTCOMES -------------- ¶7. (C) In wrapping up the progress of the two-day meeting, Facilitator Duncan Jarrett highlighted six positive outcomes of the meetings: a) The international side volunteered experienced mass-event planners to review the Caribbean regional and national security plans to offer advice on how the plans can be improved. South Africa will take the lead as it was the last CWC host. b) ISAG Facilitators (Flessatti and Jarrett) will draft a timeline of past, present and future security and public safety related training offered by ISAG members. c) Informal Terms of Reference were agreed upon by all parties. d) All parties agreed to coordinate upcoming security exercises to ensure that they were relevant to the regional and national CWC security plans, specifically with regard to public safety concerns. e) ISAG experts will be allowed to observe host nation test events; the experts will provide reports detailing successes and areas for improvement to be shared with host nations. f) CBP Executive Director Charles Bartoldus and former Barbados Senator Phillip Goddard were identified as points of contact on coordinating immigration issues to include APIS, visa issuance, integration of Interpol inputs, training and linkages. -------------- FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS -------------- ¶8. (C) Each side was tasked with producing information for the second ISAG, tentatively scheduled for late September. HOST NATION ACTIONS: a) National and regional status of forces agreement(s), which address legal and practical implications for international forces working within their territories. It is also essential that there be a clear, mutually agreed chain of command. b) Develop a matrix of assets - material and human - previously provided by donor nations, including their current location and how they can be integrated into the regional and national security plans. c) A fully integrated, linear command structure for presentation to the ISAG. (Note: The partial command structure presented by IMPACS was circular and did not include any reference to political decisions or international inputs. End note.) d) Identify links between health and public safety concerns within the regional and national security plans. e) Create a better mechanism to integrate political decisions and the planning process and how to communicate the decisions to the operational level. ¶9. (C) ISAG ACTIONS a) Provide a matrix of relevant assets and training provided by the international participants, since January 2005. Lead: Canada (Note: This is a cross-check to 8b. End Note.) b) A matrix of future assets and training which will be integrated with 9a. Lead: ISAG (Jarrett and Flessatti) c) Identify experts to assist COPACS with refining the Regional Security Plan. Lead: South Africa -------------- PROGRESS ON THE MARGINS - APIS AND CRMA -------------- ¶10. (C) The USDEL conducted highly productive side discussions on implementing APIS. A copy of the MOI signed by some heads during the St. Kitts HOGs meeting (ref. B) was obtained and sent to WHA/CAR. A site in Barbados to house APIS has been identified, and Goddard is taking the lead on discussions with the landlord. (NOTE: The location is adjacent to the NEC compound and is part of NEC landlord's business park. End note.) Customs and Border Protection will send a site survey team to Barbados to begin preparations for setting up the CARICOM APIS Center after August 1. ¶11. (C) CARICOM selected Goddard to lead the steering committee which will include one representative each from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Kitts and Nevis. DHS/CBP invited the steering committee to Washington, tentatively August 6-8, for meetings on the U.S. APIS program and to establish a joint timeline for implementation. ¶12. (C) Progress was also made on reviving action on the stalled Caribbean Regional Maritime Agreement (CRMA). Apparently, several, but not all, CARICOM member states, in response to the original CRMA demarche, drafted a list of desired equipment as a signing quid pro quo. This list was never transmitted to the USG. Barbados will try to locate a copy of the list. Jamaica will press other CARICOM states to sign and consent to be bound by the CRMA. Ambassador Kramer will press CRMA when she meets St. Lucia PM Anthony next week. On the margins of the ISAG, USDEL members highlighted the benefits CRMA could bring to CWC host nations. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) Despite a befuddled start due to unrealistic expectations, a vague master plan, a very short timeline to produce results and lack of a clear understanding what petition-weary donors were willing and able to provide, the meeting was a success. Expectations were gently lowered without visible indignation, plans were defined, and progress appeared to be made. There is much left to do, and the clock is ticking. ¶14. (C) Post anticipates unrealistic requests will still be made. There may be serious problems trying to produce a mutually acceptable command and control structure and status of forces agreements for both uniformed services and law enforcement. Only eight months remain to prepare for a two-month sporting event that will bring 30,000-50,000 cricket fans to a regional already hosting tens of thousands of American citizens during the traditional tourist season (December-May). It is encouraging that members of the ISAG shared similar concerns and agreed on common positions to advise and assist the future CWC hosts. KRAMER