ST. VINCENT: A VIOLENT DEATH AND A DIPLOMAT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000554

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL OFDP UK VC XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT: A VIOLENT DEATH AND A DIPLOMAT'S
DEPARTURE ALTER THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 425

B. 05 BRIDGETOWN 1420

C. 05 BRIDGETOWN 935

Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The recent death of the top aide to St.
Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves,
together with the departure of a British diplomat who was
among the PM's closest friends, has significantly changed the
political landscape of this small country. The tragic murder
in March of Press Secretary Glenn Jackson has deprived the
Government of a key figure who counseled the PM on a variety
of issues and was Post's best contact in St. Vincent.
Similarly, the recent departure of the Resident British
Commissioner has meant the loss of a close friend of the PM
who provided Post with excellent insight into this regional
leader. The role these two individuals played in St.
Vincent's political establishment is indicative of the small
island-states of the Eastern Caribbean and also instructive
of the situation faced by Post in developing meaningful
contacts in order to report to the Department on regional
issues. End summary.

--------------
Murder of the PM's Top Aide
--------------


2. (U) The brutal murder of the top aide to Prime Minister
Ralph Gonsalves has left the Government of St. Vincent and
the ruling Unity Labor Party (ULP) bereft of one of its
leading figures. Glenn Jackson, who served as Government
Press Secretary and Personal Aide to the PM, was among
Gonsalves's closest confidants, attending all Cabinet
meetings and weighing in on important policy issues. He was
also a key figure in the ruling ULP, helping the party defeat
the long-governing New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2001 and win
re-election in 2005. Jackson's body was found near his home
in the capital, Kingstown, on March 6 (ref A). According to
press reports, he died of a gunshot wound. Police have yet
to identify a suspect or motive for the murder.

--------------
Journalist and Provocateur
--------------


3. (U) Glenn Jackson was a divisive figure in St. Vincent,
leading to speculation that his murder may not have been a
random crime. A journalist by profession, Jackson rose to
prominence in the 1990s as host of St. Vincent's first talk
radio program. This platform allowed Jackson to use his
eloquence and passion to turn out hundreds of people for
public demonstrations against what he saw as a variety of
ills that plagued St. Vincent. Among these was a protest
against the USG for its support of ending preferential trade
quotas for Caribbean bananas. Similar demonstrations
initiated by Jackson were directed against then Prime
Minister James Mitchell and the ruling NDP, contributing to a
political crisis that culminated in the 2001 elections that
brought the opposition ULP and Ralph Gonsalves to power.
Jackson followed Gonsalves into Government while continuing
his role as radio host-provocateur, drawing the ire of many
who believe he contributed negatively to the nation's
hothouse political climate (refs B and C).

--------------
A Small Clique Close to the PM
--------------


4. (C) In Government, Glenn Jackson established himself as
one of PM Gonsalves's most trusted associates and was given
the official title Personal Aide in addition to Press
Secretary. Jackson was among a handful of people that were

SIPDIS
close to Gonsalves in a Government full of political
appointees and bureaucrats of questionable ability. This
common quality of governments in the Eastern Caribbean has
the effect of making already small governing institutions
even smaller, so that decision-making and access to
information are often concentrated in a small clique close to
the prime minister. In St. Vincent, PM Gonsalves has taken
this tendency to an extreme and nearly all Government
initiatives are run directly from his office. As the PM's
top aide, Glenn Jackson was, therefore, exceptionally
knowledgeable. Post was particularly fortunate to identify
Jackson's value and cultivate a relationship that made him
our most important contact.


--------------
British Diplomat the PM's Pal
--------------


5. (C) Resident British Commissioner Terry Knight was another
person close to Ralph Gonsalves who, by virtue of his
unfettered access, could provide Post with valuable
information regarding the PM and Vincentian politics. St.
Vincent is a rather parochial place for a cosmopolitan figure
such as Gonsalves, who appreciated socializing with the
engaging British diplomat. Their relationship was furthered
by the especially close bond that developed between Knight's
and Gonsalves's Trinidadian-born spouses. Numerous family
outings and weekend barbecues led to many candid discussions
that offered Knight unique insight into what makes Gonsalves
tick. Emboffs meeting with the British diplomat were treated
to recitations of what "Ralph said" on all manner of issues,
which added to our understanding of the mercurial Gonsalves
and his often contentious role in Caribbean politics.

--------------
U.K.'s Caribbean Downsizing
--------------


6. (C) Terry Knight proved himself to be one of Post's most
valuable contacts in St. Vincent. While his personal
relationship with Ralph Gonsalves made this situation
exceptional, the Resident British Commissioners posted to the
other islands in the Eastern Caribbean have also proved to be
invaluable by virtue of both their knowledge of the countries
in which they live and unfailing collegiality.
Unfortunately, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
permanently removed their Resident Commissioners from St.
Vincent and Grenada in December 2005 as part of a downsizing
of staff. Currently, the U.K. has diplomats posted only to
Antigua and St. Lucia in addition to the High Commission in
Barbados. (Note: Terry Knight's new position is Resident
Commissioner in Antigua, where it is unlikely, however, that
he will become as close to Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer as
he did to Ralph Gonsalves. End note.)

--------------
The Trouble With Island Hopping
--------------


7. (C) Comment: While all reporting officers face the
problems inherent in developing and maintaining contacts, the
challenge is particularly acute in the Eastern Caribbean
where Emboffs working out of Barbados can travel only
infrequently to the other islands they cover. As a result,
it can be difficult to identify and cultivate key contacts
without regular interaction with members of the political
establishment. Considering, however, the small size of the
countries in the region, Emboffs can typically gather enough
information during periodic visits to meet the Department's
needs. In St. Vincent, in which interest is heightened
because of Ralph Gonsalves's role as a perennial thorn in
Washington's side and best friend of Cuba and Venezuela, Post
was particularly fortunate to have among its contacts two
individuals who could provide valuable insight on the PM and
his small island-state. The departure of diplomat Terry
Knight and aide Glenn Jackson's tragic death were setbacks
that Post will overcome as we strive to continue producing
quality reporting. End comment.
KRAMER