AMBASSADOR KRAMER BEGINS FAREWELL TOUR: ST. KITTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRIDGETOWN 001832 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-COLLINS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL PINR CASC ELAB OPIC EAGR KIDE AC, XL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER BEGINS FAREWELL TOUR: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 1315 ¶B. CMC NEWS RELEASE 9/13/06 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: During her September 18-20 visit to St. Kitts, Ambassador Kramer began the first in a series of farewell meetings with the Prime Ministers and Governors General of the seven island-nations to which she is accredited. On September 18 she met with St. Kitts and Nevis Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, and on September 20 with Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and Foreign Minister Timothy Harris. END SUMMARY. GOVERNOR GENERAL SEBASTIAN -------------- ¶2. (U) On September 18 Ambassador Kramer met with St. Kitts Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian in the first of several farewell meetings to take place over the coming weeks. The Ambassador was accompanied by PolOff as notetaker during the short but cordial meeting. Ambassador Kramer began by expressing appreciation to the Governor General for his role in enhancing the relationship between St. Kitts and the United States, highlighting cooperation in law enforcement, education, and regional integration, especially with regard to the recently established tsunami warning system. She also praised the government for the success of the U.S.-administered Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the International University of Nursing, encouraging the utilization of students and graduates in future development plans. ¶3. (U) The Governor General expressed his belief that the relationship between the U.S. and St. Kitts is healthy. He noted that St. Kitts' efforts to develop a "proper tourism industry," since transferring resources out of the failing sugar industry in 2005, had shown promising results. Sebastian remarked that the Marriott Resort had increased tourism revenue for the twin island nation by 30 percent in its first year, beginning with the 2003-2004 tourism season. Sebastian also introduced GOSKN plans to diversify its agricultural lands to produce "row crops" to market to cruise ships, and designate land to develop a meat (beef) industry. The Governor General also pointed out GOSKN's continued focus on improving health care, noting that anti-retroviral drugs for treating HIV/AIDS were provided more affordably in St. Kitts than in other Eastern Caribbean countries due to the efforts of the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative. ¶4. (U) Finally, when asked about preparations for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, the Governor General stated that St. Kitts was "ahead of the curve." The new stadium, which will host 4 CWC matches, is complete and was already used for international test matches in June 2006. He did not address security matters but opined that transportation between the airport, hotels, and stadium would not be a problem. (COMMENT: Transportation issues are likely to arise due to the small size of the country's airport, as well as the poor condition of the roads and the limited number of vehicles available for hire. End comment.) PRIME MINISTER DOUGLAS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On September 20 Ambassador Kramer met with St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas. PAO Julie O'Reagan, Peace Corps Country Director Kate Raftery, and PolOff (notetaker) accompanied the Ambassador. The meeting started off on a very high note, with the Ambassador informing PM Douglas of an additional allocation of 144 thousand USD for the St. Kitts Defence Forces, and the signing of the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Florida National Guard and the Regional Security System (RSS). Douglas was quite pleased to receive this news, as Independence Day events had been marred by a police "sick out" on September 19. The PM lamented that because of the "sick out" there had been no police brigade in the Independence Day parade on Nevis. He further informed his American visitors that not a single recruit for the security forces had come forward from the federation's sister island of Nevis in seven years. Douglas also complained that since tourism and the financial services sector were more developed on Nevis, and therefore more profitable, that employment in those industries were more desirable to youth than public BRIDGETOWN 00001832 002 OF 003 sector jobs. He noted that to fill the gap the GOSKN had begun recruiting new officers from St. Vincent and Guyana. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to standard complaints of poor conditions in police stations, the lack of interest in becoming a law-enforcement officer may also be a result of the contentious relationship between the federal government on St. Kitts and former Premier of Nevis Vance Amory. Nevis elected a new Premier, Joseph W. Parry, on July 10, 2006. Parry's Nevis Reformation Party is more closely aligned with the ruling St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, so relations between the two may improve demonstrably in the short term. End comment. ¶7. (SBU) When asked by Ambassador Kramer how well prepared he thought St. Kitts and the region were for Cricket World Cup (CWC),Douglas relayed that all parties had agreed at the Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in July to share security forces to cover countries when and where matches were being held, and stated that the relevant Foreign Ministers would be meeting October 17 in St. Kitts to "work out the kinks." He also mentioned the previously sought swipe card as an entrance/security measure. (Note: Douglas seems to be under the impression that the swipe card program is still in the works. The plans for this program were scrapped in favor of initiating the more tenable Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) program in the time allotted (ref A). End note.) ¶8. (SBU) Ambassador Kramer praised the PM for his assistance in moving along the Heath/Matthews extradition case, finally extracting this "thorn" from the U.S./St. Kitts relationship. Douglas mentioned his relief that the matter was over as well. He stated that his biggest current concerns were security and agricultural diversification. Douglas noted that local farmers need training in commercial farming management to transition to independent vs. state-run farming. Ambassador Kramer then suggested the PM consider using the resources and knowledge of the 13 newly arrived PCVs and Marriott Hotel staff who have experience with commercial farming. (NOTE: The Marriott,s new Food and Beverage/Marketing Manager Kevin Doty expressed interest in working with local farmers and co-operatives to identify a limited range of products, in specific quantities and qualities, which could be used by the hotel. End note.) ¶9. (SBU) When asked about a recently announced election reform program, Douglas noted that the GOSKN is in the "consultation" phase now. He stated that GOSKN officials are conducting interviews with its citizens living abroad to determine how best to include them in the election process. The GOSKN is considering instituting an absentee ballot program, which would allow citizens living abroad to participate in elections. ¶10. (SBU) Regarding the recent GOSKN acquisition of the Angelus Resort (ref. B),Douglas noted that the current manager of the resort, and one of many disputed shareholders, asked the government to step in and take over the property so that it could be resold with a clear title. He stated that there had been allegations that the previous owner, Roland M. Thomas, sold shares to various parties as part of a money-laundering scheme in connection with an offshore banking operation. When Thomas died, the investment scam came to light. The decaying property is in a prime location, next to the St. Kitts Marriott, and Douglas mentioned that The Ritz-Carlton chain has expressed interest in the property and adjacent land equal to at least 24 acres. (NOTE: This does not appear to be an expropriation but post will continue to monitor the case. End note.) ST. KITTS: FOREIGN MINISTER -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The meeting with St. Kitts Foreign Minister Timothy Harris was very brief, yet cordial. The Ambassador expressed her gratitude for the FM's support and cooperation, and Minister Harris reciprocated the sentiment. (RUMINT: When queried as to who would join him in attending the meeting with Secretary of State Rice on the margins of the UN General Assembly, Minister Harris noted that former Attorney General Delano Bart may be going along as he was being considered to replace Harris (NFI). Former Director of BRIDGETOWN 00001832 003 OF 003 Public Prosecutions Dennis Merchant replaced Bart as Attorney General on September 11, 2006. Antigua Attorney General Justin Simon also commented in a meeting with Ambassador Kramer later that same day that Bart was retiring in order to expand his U.K.-based private practice throughout the Eastern Caribbean.) COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (SBU) As these meetings signaled the beginning of Ambassador Kramer's farewell to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the tone was generally cordial and upbeat. All parties focused on positive achievements over the past three years, with a look to continued good relations in the future. KRAMER