AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON OPPOSITION LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000203

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL WHTI JM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON OPPOSITION LEADER
BRUCE GOLDING

REF: 05 KINGSTON 1346

Classified By: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson. Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).


1. Summary: During the Ambassador's January 17 courtesy
call on Leader of the Opposition Bruce Golding and senior
Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) MPs Karl Samuda (JLP Chairman) and
Ed Bartlett (shadow tourism minister),Golding lamented what
he described as Jamaica's diminished importance to the USG,
and expressed concern at the GOJ/Venezuela PetroCaribe
agreement, and about Jamaica's high debt-to-GDP levels.
Samuda faulted the GOJ for its inability to get a handle on
Jamaica's record homicide rate, while Bartlett worried about
the likely effects on Jamaica's tourism sector of
implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI). With the ruling Peoples National Party internal
election campaign heating up, and the prospect of general
elections looming thereafter, Golding is positioning himself
domestically and vis-a-vis the USG for what will likely be a
bruising electoral campaign. End Summary.


2. (C) On January 17, the Ambassador called on Leader of the
Opposition Bruce Golding, at the Jamaica Labor Party's (JLP)
Kingston headquarters. JLP Chairman Karl Samuda and shadow
tourism minister Ed Bartlett joined Golding, while P/ECouns
(notetaker) accompanied the Ambassador. Following brief
welcoming remarks, Golding lamented what he characterized as
Jamaica's diminished importance to the U.S. since the end of
the Cold War. Without explicitly saying so, Golding was
referring to Jamaica's pro-Washington orientation during the
1980-89 administration of Edward Seaga, Jamaica's last JLP
prime minister. The Ambassador acknowledged that the world
is very different in 2006 than it was in 1989, and that Iraq
and Afghanistan were of necessity higher priorities for the
USG. She assured Golding, however, that Jamaica remains
important to the USG, noting the Secretary's proposed March
visit to Nassau to meet with CARICOM leaders as a sign of
Washington's desire to engage with Jamaica and the region.


3. (C) Golding expressed concern about the GOJ's PetroCaribe
agreement with Venezuela, wondering aloud "what IOU's are
being stored up" as a result. Then, noting Jamaica's high
debt-to-GDP ratio, he wondered aloud how a future government
would be able to continue managing Jamaica's massive debt.
The Ambassador replied that there was little chance that
Venezuela is offering its largesse with no strings attached.
She also told Golding that she was very interested in the
debt issue.


4. (C) Noting Jamaica's record homicide rate during 2005,
Golding criticized the GOJ for its inability to master the
crime situation. Samuda asked pointedly whether USG
assistance to the GOJ and its security forces had "failed",
particularly as, he continued, U.S.-origin firearms,
illegally imported to Jamaica, were behind much of the
violence plaguing the country. In reply, the Ambassador and
P/ECouns outlined multifaceted USG assistance, including
close USG/GOJ counternarcotics cooperation; training and
material assistance to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF);
training for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); and
cooperation with the JCF (via RSO to ATF) in tracing serial
numbers of illegal firearms seized by the Jamaican
authorities. Samuda seemed genuinely surprised at the extent
of cooperation.


5. (C) Bartlett, whose parliamentary constituency includes
the tourism-dependent north coast city of Montego Bay,
expressed gratitude that the USG had "granted a stay of
execution" by extending the implementation date for the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) by one year. He,
Golding, and Samuda unanimously opined that WHTI, even with
the extended deadline, would have serious negative
implications for Jamaica's tourism industry, given the
relatively small percentage of Amcits who possess passports.
Golding asked whether there was any "wiggle room" to delay
further, or suspend, implementation for Jamaica. The
Ambassador replied firmly that WHTI was a necessary measure
for the USG and that it would be implemented fully, including
for Jamaica-bound travelers. PolEconCouns briefly outlined
WHA/CAR Director Brian Nichols's 2005 discussions of WHTI
with GOJ officials (Reftel),and said that the USG is well
aware of Jamaica's concerns vis-a-vis WHTI.

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Comment
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6. (C) Golding used the brief but cordial meeting to seek the

Ambassador's reassurance that the USG has not written off
Jamaica, and to register a desire to see closer relations
between the USG and the GOJ. His unspoken message seemed to
be that any future government he led would make closer
bilateral relations a priority. With the governing People's
National Party undergoing a contentious internal leadership
succession process, and the possibility that the PNP leader
who emerges as prime minister will call early elections,
Golding is seeking to position himself - domestically and
vis-a-vis the USG - for what is sure to be a bruising
political campaign ahead. Post will report septel on how
that campaign is shaping up.
JOHNSON