AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001811 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/OAS AND WHA/CAR-COLLINS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016 TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL PINR CASC ELAB OPIC KIDE AC XL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA REF: BRIDGETOWN 1706 Classified By: CDA MARY ELLEN T. GILROY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During a September 20 visit to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Kramer met with Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, continuing her series of farewell meetings with leaders of the seven island-nations to which she is accredited. The Ambassador also met with Minister of Housing, Culture, and Social Transformation Hilson Baptiste to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the U.S. Geological Survey Seismic Warning Station. Additional meetings the same day with Attorney General Justin Simon, Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell, and Amcits William Rogers and Natalia Querard are reported in full reftel. End Summary. FAREWELL WITH PRIME MINISTER SPENCER -------------- ¶2. (U) On September 20 Ambassador Kramer visited Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer accompanied by PAO Julie O'Reagan, Amcit William D. Rogers and PolOff (notetaker). GOAB Permanent Secretary Ambassador Colin Murdoch and GOAB Ambassador to the U.S. Deborah May Lovell (sister to Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell) accompanied PM Spencer. The meeting was cordial and focused on positive developments and cooperation achieved over the past two and a half years. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Kramer was pleased to inform Prime Minister Spencer that the State Partnership Program (SPP) had been recently signed, whereby the Florida National Guard will partner with the Regional Security System (RSS) for Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) in a variety of military and civilian governmental activities. Spencer noted that his security officials had mentioned with some concern the possible reduction in funding to support the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The Ambassador acknowledged his concern, stating the she would have to check with the Military Liaison Office (MLO) to see if that was the case. (Note: According to MLO, there is no reduction in funding scheduled. However, because Antigua and Barbuda is delinquent in paying parking fines in the U.S., over USD 17,000, this may affect the total amount disbursed. End Note.) HALF MOON BAY INTERJECTION -------------- ¶4. (C) William Rogers, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Latin American Affairs, attorney/representative for Mrs. Natalia Querard, attended the meeting as well and gave Spencer a book written and personally inscribed by Henry Kissinger. He also presented the PM with a copy of the draft MOU for resolution of the Half Moon Bay (HMB) resort expropriation. He informed Spencer that Mrs. Querard needed title to the land in order to get the insurance money to begin refurbishing the resort, and noted that persuading her to agree to the document as written was not easy. ¶5. (C) Spencer queried whether Mrs. Querard was willing to sign the MOU and Rogers stated that she was. (Note: At a subsequent lunch meeting with the Ambassador, Mrs. Querard made it clear that Rogers would be the one to sign, not/not she. End note.) Spencer noted that he would await the recommendation of AG Simon after the meeting later in the day (reftel),and remarked that while the GOAB was pleased with recent developments, it had hoped to be at this point much earlier. (Comment: Spencer's observation reflects his belief that the dialogue stalled in July 2005, when the GOAB proposed a similar MOU. End comment.) Spencer also raised the issue of back severance pay for former HMB employees whom Mrs. Querard had agreed to compensate, despite the fact that it was the legal responsibility of the management company, no longer operating in Antigua, and not hers. Rogers assured the PM that she was still willing to honor that commitment. REQUEST FOR SUPPORT IN OAS VOTE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the U.S. Deborah May Lovell made a request at the end of the meeting for USG support for Dr. Jackie Quinn-Leandro as President of the OAS Inter-American Commission of Women. Ambassador Kramer acknowledged Dr. Quinn-Leandro's qualifications and positive reputation in the region, without committing support. U.S. Geological Survey - MOU -------------- ¶7. (U) At a press conference later that afternoon, Ambassador Kramer and Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Housing, Culture, and Social Transformation Hilson Baptiste signed an MOU to place a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Seismic Warning Station on Barbuda. USGS Regional Specialist Jean Weaver and GOAB National Office of Disaster Service Deputy Director Philmore Mullins were on hand to address technical and logistical questions. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Despite a few unexpected turns in the day's schedule, the Antigua meetings were generally cordial and upbeat, focusing on positive achievements and looking toward continued good relations. Post recommends USG support for Dr. Quinn-Leandro for leadership of the OAS Inter-American Commission of Women. GILROY