Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GEORGETOWN203
2006-03-02 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:  

CARICOM QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL AGENDA AND

Tags:  PREL XL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000203 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL XL
SUBJECT: CARICOM QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL AGENDA AND
LOGISTICS

REF: A. GEORGETOWN 63


B. GEORGETOWN 21

Action request for WHA: please see para 5.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000203

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL XL
SUBJECT: CARICOM QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL AGENDA AND
LOGISTICS

REF: A. GEORGETOWN 63


B. GEORGETOWN 21

Action request for WHA: please see para 5.


1. (U) Ambassador met with CARICOM A/SYG for Community
and Foreign Relations, Ambassador Colin Granderson, March
1 to briefly discuss upcoming ministerial with Secretary
Rice. Granderson gave Ambassador a non-paper containing
CARICOM's proposed agenda, questions pertaining to the
working meals, and proposed outcome documents.
Granderson gave no indication whether CARICOM would
include Haiti at the meeting, which is scheduled to take
place before the new GOH's inauguration. CARICOM's non-
paper is transcribed in para 6.

Agenda
--------------

2. (SBU) CARICOM has proposed an overarching "Democracy,
Development, and Governance" lead agenda item that lumps
together three of the U.S.' original items -- democratic
governance, trade/economic competitiveness, energy
conservation -- and adds in human resource development.
According to Granderson, the CARICOM FonMins see these
issues as inextricably linked. When Ambassador cautioned
against having every FonMin speak on each agenda item,
Granderson assured that they intend to designate a lead
speaker for each sub-topic. The FonMins still need to
caucus to decide who will take the lead on the various
issues.

Logistics for Working Meals
--------------

3. (U) Granderson emphasized that the FonMins want
greater clarity on the format for the working meals.

- How large should the delegation be at the working
dinner and breakfast (i.e., just FonMins, or FonMins plus
one)?
- What will the agenda items be at these meals?

Outcome Documents
--------------

4. (SBU) CARICOM is proposing a press release and an aide
memoire to keep track of any commitments made during the
meeting. In response to Ambassador's suggestion,
Granderson indicated that CARICOM does not have the
capacity for officials to work on these outcome documents
in advance of the meeting.

Action Request
--------------

5. (U) Action Request: Post requests that WHA provide
feedback on CARICOM's non-paper. Ambassador told
Granderson the U.S. would provide responses to the
following by Monday, March 6:

- Is the reconfigured agenda acceptable?
- More detail on the structure for the working meals.
- Are the proposed outcome documents acceptable?

CARICOM Non-Paper
--------------

6. (U) BEGIN TEXT:

NON-PAPER
CARICOM FOREIGN MINISTERS-US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETING
The Bahamas
21-22 March 2006


1. CARICOM proposed the following Agenda:
i) Democracy, Development and Governance (to include
discussions on trade competitiveness, human resource
development and energy).
ii) Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation
iii) Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation


2. In view of the proposal made by the United States for
a Working Dinner and Working Breakfast, grateful for an
indication of the views of the US side re:
i) Allocation for each delegation at dinner and breakfast
ii) Practicalities of the format envisaged:
- agenda items over dinner
- agenda items over breakfast
- agenda items for half hour Ministerial Meeting


3. Proposed outcome documents:
- Aide Memoire
- Press Release

1 March 2006
END TEXT.
BULLEN