CARICOM MINISTERS OF NATIONAL SECURITY MEET TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 001007

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT AND FOR WHA/CAR (BENT, FORTIN)
DEPARTMENT PASS TO DHS (STALLWORTH, PATTERSON, LOONEY)
BRIDGETOWN PLEASE PASS GILROY, AGUILERA
SANTO DOMINGO FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: ASEC CPAS OAS PINR PREL PTER XL JM
SUBJECT: CARICOM MINISTERS OF NATIONAL SECURITY MEET TO
DISCUSS CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007

REF: A. STATE 80801


B. BRIDGETOWN 744

Classified By: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: At a meeting of CARICOM Ministers of
National Security and Law Enforcement addressing security
issues surrounding Cricket World Cup 2007 held in Kingston on
May 19 and 21, ministers were very receptive to proposals for
USG assistance, through the OAS Inter-American Committee
Against Terrorism (CICTE),in the areas of airport screening,
communications, and canine units for bomb detection. They
expressed a strong desire to receive further details on both
the specific elements of the proposals, and the potential
issues related to Third Border Initiative funds that might
arise, in order that they may begin planning.


2. (SBU) Summary (cont,d): Subcommittees responsible for a
regional security strategy; a sub-plan for disaster
preparedness; border security surrounding visa issuance,
immigration, and customs; intelligence; the regional
legislative agenda; and sources for international assistance
provided status reports. DHS Executive Director for the
Foreign Operations Division, Charles Stallworth, also gave a
brief presentation on a proposed "smart card" entry/exit
system for the region. Although Stallworth was clear that
this was still merely a proposal, CARICOM officials
distributed draft notes of the May 19 session that reflected
firm USG commitment to the proposal and its funding. In
response to Econoff protest, officials deleted the text and
replaced it with phrasing that more accurately represented
Stallworth's comments. End summary.


3. (SBU) On May 19 and 21, CARICOM Ministers of National
Security and senior regional law enforcement officials met in
Kingston to discuss security issues relating to the 2007
Cricket World Cup.

Primary Participants: Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia
Mottley (Chairwoman); Jamaica Minister of National Security
Peter Phillips; Trinidad and Tobago Senator Martin Joseph,
Minister of National Security; Dominica Minister of National
Security Rayburn Blackmoore; Wesley Wharton, Assistant
Director, Technology, Ministry of Finance, Sustainable
Development, Information and Technology, St. Kitts and Nevis;
Phillip Goddard, Special Envoy, Barbados; Colonel Alvin
Quintyne, Chief of Staff, Barbados Defence Force; Darwin
Dottin, Police Commissioner, Royal Barbados Police; Juanita
Thorinton-Powlett, Office of the Prime Minister, Barbados;
Joan Massiah, Office of the Prime Minister, Trinidad and
Tobago; Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
National Security, Jamaica; Duncan Jarrett, Commander,
Metropolitan Police, United Kingdom; Francesca Flessati,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom; Francis
Forbes and Lance Selman, Directors, Implementing Agency for
Crime and Security (IMPACS); Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator,
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA);
Grantley Watson, Regional Security Coordinator, Regional
Security System (RSS); Jacqulyn Joseph, Executive Director,
Office of the Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat.

USG participants: Charles Stallworth, Executive Director,
Foreign Operations Division, DHS; John Morgan, Economic
Officer, Embassy Kingston.

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Ministers Receptive to Proposed Security Assistance Programs
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) Econoff delivered ref. A talking points to CARICOM
security ministers on the margins of the Ministers of
National Security Meeting in Kingston on May 19 and May 21.
All ministers expressed strong support for the proposed
programs, and noted that the potential assistance directly
addressed some of the critical needs of the region. They
were particularly interested in the communications equipment

proposal, but were anxious for further information on canine
units and airport security equipment and training as well.
Barbados Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Mia Mottley noted
sharply that while this assistance is greatly appreciated, "a
great deal more clarity" on specifics is required. Which
countries are eligible for the Third Border Initiative (TBI)
funds was a concern, she continued. Econoff reiterated that
OAS' Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) would
work with the region to identify priority countries.

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Cricket World Cup Security Preparations: State-of-Play
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Darwin Dottin, Police Commissioner of the Royal
Barbados Police, outlined for the ministers the progress made
regarding regional security for Cricket World Cup 2007 (CWC).
He presented a draft Regional Security Plan, and the
ministers accepted that document as a basis for further
detailed planning and coordination. The final draft of the
plan is due to be completed by 23 June. Post will report
septel on the substantive components of the regional security
strategy and its implications for international assistance,
the details of the border security strategy as they relate to
customs and immigration, and the progress of the region in
developing an intelligence-sharing mechanism.

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A CARICOM Visa
--------------


6. (SBU) The ministers agreed to proceed with the
introduction of a CARICOM Multiple Entry Visa for the period
January 15 to May 15, 2007. A visitor who is required to
obtain a visa for any one CARICOM State must obtain this visa
before entering the region. In discussions with a United
Kingdom delegation in April 2006, the UK raised concern that
a rubber stamp format under consideration by CARICOM would be
easily replicated, and urged a more secure visa. The
ministers further committed that by May 28 the CARICOM
Secretariat would confirm the visa requirements of all member

SIPDIS
states, and would submit a final assessment report on the 42
countries of special interest identified by the USG.

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"Smart Card" Update
--------------


7. (C) On May 19, Charles Stallworth, Executive Director of
the Foreign Operations Division, DHS, provided an overview of
a possible "Smart Card." He outlined a card that would
capture a digital photograph, 10 fingerprints, and biographic
data as outlined in Ref. B. Two changes from that time
arose: first, the concept of the card as an "e-purse,"
partnering with a financial institution, appears to have lost
favor and was not mentioned. Second, although Mottley stated
then her opinion that only visitors attending CWC should
receive smart cards, there is now consensus that "all
passengers who require a CARICOM visa are required to obtain
a swipe card."


8. (C) With respect to financing, Stallworth was clear that
USG funding was not yet in place for a smart card system. He
noted that there may arise the need for the region to partner
in some of the costs. Nevertheless, a draft summary of
recommendations and conclusions from the May 19 session that
was distributed for comment on May 21 stated both that
Stallworth "outlined the (USG) offer to provide" a biometric
card system, and that the "Government of the USA will meet
the installation, maintenance and operations costs up until
December 2008." Econoff reminded the ministers at the May 21
session that the funding for such a card was not yet
obligated, and reminded participants of Stallworth's
presentation at the previous meeting. The notes were amended
to reflect this, and Post will monitor the final summary of
recommendations to ensure that Stallworth's comments are
accurately portrayed.



9. (SBU) Participants discussed the benefits to the region of
staying "ahead of the curve" on this technology. In addition
to its future potential as a secure travel document
facilitating regional movement ) a key goal under CSME )
Stallworth pointed to the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative, and noted that the region would be compliant with
any potential requirements far ahead of the rest of the
hemisphere. Former Senator Goddard of Barbados, now a
Special Advisor for Technology, Trade and Investment to the
Barbados Office of the Prime Minister, stated that the card
could be used as a national identification card.

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International Assistance
--------------


10. (C) Although "International Support Required to
Complement National and Regional Resources" was prominent on
the agenda, the ministers made no firm requests. An
extensive document that detailed the region's requirements
and identified possible source countries was dismissed by
Minister Phillips and DPM Mottley as "embarrassing to the
region." They noted that a "wish list" of items ) the
document, in one example, identifies the need for 600 shin
guards for riot protective gear ) would only dilute
attention from the critical resource needs. They tasked the
police and military chiefs to come up with a list of critical
needs, removing from the document anything that would more
appropriately be under the purview of regular procurement.


11. (SBU) At the suggestion of the UK's Jarrett and Flessati,
there will be an international advisory committee ) Mottley
called it an "International Support Group" ) which shall
comprise representatives of likely donor countries. That
group will then liaise directly with Minister Phillips, who
is the Regional Resource Coordinator, to identify donor
capabilities and prevent duplication of efforts. At a
breakout session on May 21, Phillips noted that there had
been "sporadic" contacts between, for example, various
regional parties and SouthCom and the FBI. Phillips
therefore emphasized the need to channel communication more
effectively.

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Comment
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12. (C) Ministers' receptivity to the TBI-funded,
CICTE-operationalized proposals is heartening. Embassy
Bridgetown and Embassy Port of Spain should expect DPM
Mottley and Minister Joseph to be hungry ) and impatient -
for details, as well as concerned about the availability of
TBI funds for certain countries.


13. (C) Comment (cont,d): Stallworth's presentation and the
misrepresentation of his comments in the draft summary
distributed on May 21 are illustrative of how badly the
region wants the USG to take on the entry/exit card system.
Mottley noted to Econoff during a break that CARICOM had been
talking to the UK and Canada about a "smart card-type"
system, but had put it on hold in the wake of the USG
"offer." While the DPM seems very clear that this is not a
done deal, she and others repeatedly made comments such as
"when we get the swipe cards" and "this will happen." This
left the impression that the chatter on the margins was not a
matter of if, but of when. Mottley indicated that she would
contact Ambassador Kramer immediately on her return to
Barbados to inquire about the potential visit of Secretary
Chertoff.


14. (C) Comment (cont,d): Likewise, the establishment of a
strict vertical line of communication to coordinate requests
for international assistance is a welcome departure from the
piecemeal approach that has characterized the process until
now. Flessati and Jarrett commented to Econoff that a
benefit of the "International Support Group" approach was not

only that efforts were not duplicated, but also that each
country could play to its strengths in training and equipment
provision. At the same time, it avoids any notion that, for
example, "the USG recommends action 'x'," which could later
have negative repercussions. Instead, the international
support group gives its recommendations and responds to
requests for assistance. End comment.
JOHNSON