GUYANA ENDORSES U.S.-CARICOM INITIATIVE TO COMBAT ILLICIT

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001218 SIPDIS WHA/FO - GSNIDLE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL CARICOM OAS GY SUBJECT: GUYANA ENDORSES U.S.-CARICOM INITIATIVE TO COMBAT ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN ARMS REFS: A) STATE 183750, B) GEORGETOWN 258, C) STATE 40149 ¶1. Ambassador met with Guyana Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee on November 14 and delivered the joint U.S.-CARICOM Agreement on Illicit Trafficking in Arms. Rohee said that Guyana endorses the statement and that he will raise the matter with FonMin Insanally and President Jagdeo. Ambassador also met with CARICOM Assistant Secretary General for Foreign and Community Relations, Colin SIPDIS Granderson, on November 15. Granderson said CARICOM had regularly reminded its member states of the issue, most recently following DHS Secretary Chertoff's visit to Trinidad. Granderson expressed SIPDIS frustration at the slack response of a few unspecified member states and said CARICOM will now "get on the phone" to move the initiative forward. ROBINSON