Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRIDGETOWN1899
2006-10-27 17:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR: ST. LUCIA

Tags:  PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR KPAO PINR UNGA ST XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #1899/01 3001742
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271742Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3598
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1549
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0094
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001899 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR FOR WHA/CAR AND WHA/PDA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR KPAO PINR UNGA ST XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR: ST. LUCIA

REF: BRIDGETOWN 1542

Classified By: Ambassador Mary Kramer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

-------
SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001899

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR FOR WHA/CAR AND WHA/PDA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR KPAO PINR UNGA ST XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR: ST. LUCIA

REF: BRIDGETOWN 1542

Classified By: Ambassador Mary Kramer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (SBU) On October 13, Ambassador Kramer traveled to St.
Lucia for farewell meetings with Prime Minister Dr. Kenny
Anthony, Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy and Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Senator Victor Philip La
Corbiniere. The Ambassador used the meetings to gauge St.
Lucia's priorities as well as prevailing attitudes toward
Americans. The Prime Minister and Attorney General sought to
explain their frustration with perceived U.S. disengagement
in the region and lobby for additional U.S. resources. The
Governor General, however, stressed the importance of
personal responsibility over dependency. The Ambassador
appreciated the Governor General's constructive views and was
equally impressed with her gracious hosting of the 45th
Anniversary Celebration of Peace Corps in St. Lucia. End
Summary.

--------------
PRIME MINISTER KENNY ANTHONY
--------------


2. (C) "We (the Caribbean) want to love you, but you're not
giving us the opportunity to do so" was Prime Minister Kenny
Anthony's response when asked about Caribbean attitudes
toward Americans. The good news, according to PM Anthony, is
that the Caribbean does feel a connection to the United
States, particularly through U.S. generosity toward the
people in the region. He also affirmed that "the U.S. tops
the list with Canada for Caribbean affection." However, PM
Anthony believed that in recent years, the United States has
not invested time and effort in the region, referring
specifically to the "painful economic adjustment" brought on
by U.S. opposition to banana trade preferences. (Note: when
the Ambassador told PM Anthony that Venezuela recently stood
by Ecuador's call for the elimination of banana trade

preferences, he glossed over the comment. End Note.)


3. (SBU) PM Anthony perceived other missed opportunities to
improve relations with the Caribbean, such as the economic
strain from repatriating deportees from the U.S., inability
to meet with high-level leaders in Washington, lack of
coordination on Haiti, and lack of U.S. funding to support
St. Lucia's domestic projects, namely scholarships and health
care. The Ambassador responded that the United States
secured hundreds of millions of dollars for the region during
her tenure, improved pre-departure processes for deportees,
and assisted with highly successful counternarcotics
operations. PM Anthony admitted that these were important
contributions. He insisted, however, that such contributions
are not as tangible as, for example, the new hospital funded
by the European Union, which he claims, "stands as a visible
monument."

--------------
GOVERNOR GENERAL OF ST. LUCIA
--------------


4. (SBU) Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy provided the
Ambassador with honest and constructive views on issues of
poverty, crime, and the environment in St. Lucia. The
Governor General told the Ambassador that "people need to
take responsibility for their own behavior and cannot expect
the government to clean everyone's backyard and raise their
children." Dame Pearlette supported the same approach to the
private sector, agreeing with the Ambassador that the hotel
industry also needed to take more responsibility, and rely
less on the government, for their customers' security.


5. (SBU) When asked about attitudes of St. Lucians toward the
United States, the Governor General told the Ambassador that
the lack of appreciation for U.S. generosity in the region
may have more to do with the nature of the projects (i.e.,
tangibility) rather than the dollar amount. She also
suggested that "it may be an information problem," and that
the United States should raise more awareness in the media
and among the public so that people can "make the link
between global and local, and break down the issues for the
common man." Later that evening, the Ambassador returned to
the Governor General's residence to celebrate the 45th
Anniversary of Peace Corps in St. Lucia, a perfect reminder
that the United States has maintained this link with the
Caribbean for the last 45 years.

--------------
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
--------------


6. (C) Article 98 was the first order of business in the
Ambassador's meeting with Senator Victor Phillip La
Corbiniere, Attorney General and Justice Minister. AG La
Corbiniere assured the Ambassador that the agreement should
be ready for signature "quickly" after he discusses it in his
next meeting with the Cabinet on October 23. AG La
Corbiniere was
careful not to "speak for the Cabinet" but told the
Ambassador that the agreement should be ready for signing
before the Ambassador departs post. AG La Corbiniere thanked
the Ambassador for her responsiveness on the issue of
deportee repatriation. AG La Corbiniere also noted
considerable progress in the lead-time and information
sharing among both countries' law enforcement communities,
but admitted that debriefings on deportees still needed
improvement because of the local police officers' hesitancy
to ask questions.


7. (C) AG La Corbiniere also expressed concern with what he
sees as an alarming new trend among drug traffickers:
becoming less involved in the direct movement of drugs and
more involved in the financial side of operations, via money
laundering and real estate acquisition. According to AG La
Corbiniere, these criminals will fall off the radar screen
unless he has additional resources to hire a specialized
financial investigation team to maintain a steady focus on
financial crimes. The Ambassador replied that permanent IRS
positions will be created in 2007 at Embassy Bridgetown which
could expand opportunities for longer-term strategic planning
and assistance to combat such illegal activities.

-------------- --------------
A CELEBRATION OF 45 YEARS OF PEACE CORPS IN ST. LUCIA
-------------- --------------


8. (U) The highlight of the Ambassador's farewell calls was
the 45th Anniversary Celebration of the Peace Corps at the
Governor General's residence. Dame Pearlette thanked the
United States Peace Corps' friendship and service to the
people of St. Lucia and expressed special gratitude to the
past and present Volunteers in the country. The Ambassador
pointed out that in many ways, Peace Corps Volunteers are our
best ambassadors, whose inspirational work brings our two
countries closer in friendship and mutual understanding. The
Ambassador also confirmed that other U.S. efforts are
underway, by the embassy as well as other U.S. agencies, that
are making a difference in the lives of both St. Lucians and
Americans, and creating stronger ties between our countries.
The new Peace Corps Country Director, Kate Raftery, presented
the Governor General with a small gift of appreciation for
her country's cooperation and friendship with the Peace
Corps, and acknowledged St. Lucia's contributions as well.
Also present were former Peace Corps Volunteers, including
the first Peace Corps Volunteer in St. Lucia, as well as St.
Lucians that were former recipients of Peace Corps services
and training.

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


9. (C) The Prime Minister, Governor General and Attorney
General all expressed their gratitude and appreciation for
the Ambassador's leadership and assistance to the region, as
well as her "personal friendship." As is usual in meetings
with St. Lucian officials, the Ambassador also heard some
frustration over the perceived lack of "tangible" U.S.
engagement in the region, followed by requests for more
assistance. The conversation with the Governor General,
however, showed that not everyone in the Eastern Caribbean
wants to depend on others to "clean their own backyard," and
many still appreciate the generosity of the United States in
times of real need. As we have seen in other settings, like
the Peace Corps Anniversary Celebration, such sentiments may
be more widespread than PM Anthony would lead us to believe.
Post takes this to be a positive sign that our relations with
the region are much deeper than some may give us credit for.
KRAMER