AMBASSADOR JOHNSON HANDS OVER KEYS TO REFURBISHED

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001343 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LP (BOZZOLO),INL/RM/MS (HENDERSON) AND WHA/CAR (BENT) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SNAR JM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR JOHNSON HANDS OVER KEYS TO REFURBISHED SEA ARK VESSEL ¶1. During a widely publicized ceremony at Jamaica's Coast Guard base in Port Royal on July 6, U.S. Ambassador Brenda Johnson formally presented the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) with the keys to a refurbished Sea Ark Dauntless Class vessel recently refitted/refurbished using NAS/INL funds. JDF Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, received the keys from the Ambassador. He, in turn, presented them to JDF/CG Commander Sidney Innis. ¶2. In her remarks, Ambassador Johnson stated that this was the first of two 40-foot Sea Ark vessels being refurbished by the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) at a total cost of $670,000. She expressed the expectation that, with the addition of these two vessels, the JDF Coast Guard will gain increased control over Jamaica's territorial waters. The Ambassador also noted that, in the past two years, NAS provided $133,000, which was used to help establish the CG station in Black River, to refurbish a coastal interceptor, to purchase spare parts and general equipment for the Coast Guard, as well as to contribute to efforts of other USG entities to establish a Coast Guard presence in Pedro Cays. ¶3. Admiral Lewin and Commander Innes praised the long-standing and productive relationship between the Embassy and JDF/CG. The Admiral (formerly the CG Commander) pointed out that four Sea Arks were originally provided by the USG many years ago and had proved to be the sturdy workhorses of the CG fleet. At times, they were the only operable boats available for CG operations. CG personnel had developed deep respect for their capabilities. He said the refitted vessels have many years of life ahead of them. He expressed the hope that NAS would consider refurbishing the remaining two vessels. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the boat was blessed and the Ambassador climbed aboard for an inspection. ¶4. Comment: NAS support for the JDF/Coast Guard aims to improve GOJ maritime interdiction capabilities. The Sea Arks will be deployed to stations around the island in order to improve the CG's response time capability. Currently there are six stations. We will look into the possibility of funding the refitting of a third vessel. But, we also need to see whether the Coast Guard can adapt its resources to changing methods used by drug traffickers. In conversations following the ceremony the Ambassador learned that construction at the Pedro Cays site has stopped due to what appears to be an impasse between the contractor and SOUTHCOM. The Ambassador is looking into the problem. End comment. JOHNSON JOHNSON