CABINET SECRETARY ANNOUNCES GUYANA DEA OFFICE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000022

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

PORT OF SPAIN ALSO FOR DEA AND LEGATT
CARACAS FOR LEGATT
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL GY
SUBJECT: CABINET SECRETARY ANNOUNCES GUYANA DEA OFFICE

REF: A. 05 GEORGETOWN 1275

B. 05 GEORGETOWN 1328


1. (U) SUMMARY. Presidential Secretariat Head Roger
Luncheon told a press conference that the GoG welcomes
the establishment of a U.S. DEA office in Guyana, but
acknowledged that certain details still need to be
addressed. The state-owned newspaper carried the story
the following day under the frontpage headline "DEA to
set up Guyana base". Although any signal of GoG
commitment to fight narco-trafficking is welcome,
Luncheon's comments contain nothing new. END SUMMARY.

GoG Puts DEA Plans in the News
--------------

2. (U) At his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing on
December 29, Presidential Secretariat Head Roger Luncheon
said that the GoG welcomes the establishment of a U.S.
DEA office in Guyana, but acknowledged that certain
details still need to be addressed. On December 30, the
state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper carried the story
under the headline "DEA to set up Guyana base" with a
long story that quoted Luncheon as saying "we are in
discussions with Americans and the American
administration and some details need to be addressed for
us to see that the plans come to fruition" and "I don't
have a problem in recognizing that we need a DEA in
Guyana".

Situation Remains the Same
--------------

3. (SBU) Although any signal of GoG commitment to the
fight narco-trafficking is welcome, Luncheon's comments
contain nothing new. The USG has held discussions with
the GoG off and on since 1999 about setting up a DEA
presence in Guyana. This is the second time in as many
months that the GoG has put DEA in the press. In late
2005, an aide in the Prime Minister's Office told a
reporter that the GOG had invited DEA to set up a DEA
office in Georgetown. That reporter did his homework and
the resulting story did not get much play. Over the
years, several issues have prevented the establishment of
a DEA presence here. The current stumbling block is the
GoG's inability or reluctance to give approval for basic
logistical details. Post's position remains the same --
the USG is ready to work with and advise the GoG as soon
as the GoG is fully prepared to move forward in its fight
against narco-trafficking.

Text of GoG Statement
--------------

4. (U) Following is the text of the Government
Information Agency's (GINA) December 29 statement
regarding Luncheon's comments. Begin text:

The PPP/C Administration welcomes the establishment of a
United States (US) Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Office
in Guyana, but acknowledges that certain details have to
be discussed before such an entity becomes a reality.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet
Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, made these remarks on

SIPDIS
December 29, at his weekly post Cabinet media briefing.

"Guyana like other developing countries in the region,
are not fully equipped to handle criminal activities
associated with the narco-trade. One can concede that the
United States' role as international or hemispheric
policeman is necessary for the effective handling of this
situation," Dr Luncheon said.

On several occasions officials form [sic] the DEA have
assisted local law enforcement officers with
investigations regarding narco-trafficking. The
establishment of an office in Guyana will provide local
officials with the support, expertise and resources,
which are integral to stemming the drug trade.

Dr. Luncheon said that Government is engaged in
discussion with the US Administration, and pending the

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outcome, the details for the establishment of the DEA
office will be determined.

End text.

BULLEN