Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GEORGETOWN1172
2006-11-07 15:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:  

POLICE COMMISSIONER GREENE: GIVE US BARABBAS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KCRM GY 
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R 071543Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4366
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 0837
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 1206
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0440
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 2566
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 0934
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 3954
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 1038
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 001172 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM GY
SUBJECT: POLICE COMMISSIONER GREENE: GIVE US BARABBAS

REF: A. (A) GEORGETOWN 00725

B. GEORGETOWN 00708

C. (C) STATE 118421

Classified By: Ambassador David M. Robinson, Reason 1.5(b)

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 001172

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM GY
SUBJECT: POLICE COMMISSIONER GREENE: GIVE US BARABBAS

REF: A. (A) GEORGETOWN 00725

B. GEORGETOWN 00708

C. (C) STATE 118421

Classified By: Ambassador David M. Robinson, Reason 1.5(b)


1. (C) Summary: President Bharrat Jagdeo appears set to
make Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene the permanent
head of the Guyana Police Force. Elevating Greene makes
political sense--his aggressive response to out of control
street crime is a hit--but the president fears it may cause
problems with the donor community. We will continue to raise
our concerns about Greene's links to criminal enterprises
(ref A),but do not expect Jagdeo to abandon his popular
crime chief. End summary.


2. (C) Henry Greene's tenure as acting police commissioner
will end statutorily in the next few days. He temporarily
replaced retiring Winston Felix in July and quickly gained
credibility among politicians and the public for delivering
violence-free elections on August 28 and for hunting down
known criminals, always with fatal results, ever since.
Jagdeo and Private Sector Commission head Michael Correia
separately told the Ambassador that Greene's aggressive style
is effective, making him the obvious permanent successor to
Felix. Media reports universally echo that view. The
Ambassador and his British and Canadian counterparts have
repeatedly reminded the president and other officals that
Greene has unsavory ties and that shooting criminals does not
substitute for solid police work. In this wild west
atmosphere, however, the only good criminal is a dead
criminal.


3. (C) The GoG's unofficial newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle,
ran editorials on November 5 extolling Greene's three-month
performance as interim chief and called his violent crackdown
welcome and overdue. Each dead suspect is subsequently
linked to a number of previously unsolved attacks, with or
without supporting evidence, boosting the perception of
police effectiveness. The Chronicle also reported the same
day Jagdeo's complaint about "rumors" being used to smear
Greene and other public officials. The remark likely refers
to Greene's US visa revocation the same day he was announced
as acting commissioner (refs B and C). Jagdeo and his
closest advisor, Roger Luncheon, frequently complain that the
Embassy has failed to substantiate its allegation that Greene
benefits from criminal enterprises. We have briefed the
president in general (ref A),but will not share sensitive
law enforcement information that surely will be compromised.



4. (C) Despite Greene's popularity, expected negative donor
reaction gives Jagdeo second thoughts about simply making the
commissioner's appointment permanent. The president wants UK
and IDB security sector reform proposals implemented on his
terms--more equipment, less training--and he wants DEA assets
in Guyana. Rather than risking direct confrontation over
Greene, Jagdeo likely is using the press to cast the decision
as a response to public demand rather than as a reflection of
his own preference. Wanting it both ways is a hallmark of
this administration. The Ambassador and his counterparts
from the British and Canadian High Commissions will continue
to voice concern about Greene's suitability, but their
appeals are unlikely at this point to sway Jagdeo from taking
the popular course.


5. (C) Comment: Henry Greene is corrupt but he is more
effective than his predecessor in controlling the streets.
The president is happy in the role of Pontius Pilate and is
betting that the donors ultimately will work out some
accommodation with the commissioner. He is probably right.
We will not rehabilitate Greene, but we will have to
cooperate with his police force if he becomes permanent.


ROBINSON