Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NASSAU1239
2006-08-15 21:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

BAHAMAS UNGA REPRESENTATION AND RELATED QUESTIONS

Tags:  PREL PINR UN BF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5437
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3547
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001239 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR UN BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS UNGA REPRESENTATION AND RELATED QUESTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 127917

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001239

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR UN BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS UNGA REPRESENTATION AND RELATED QUESTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 127917

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).


1. (U) This is in response to reftel request. The Bahamas
will be represented at UNGA by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fred Mitchell, Bahamas Permanent Representative to the United
Nations Dr. Paulette Bethel, and a junior officer to be
determined. Prime Minister Christie will not attend.

--------------
Permanent Representative Biography
--------------


2. (U) Dr. Paulette Bethel, The Bahamas Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, is a graduate of the
University of Massachusetts (Ph.D Sociology, 1980 with a
dissertation on Bahamian development),Howard University
(M.A. Sociology, 1973) and the University of Toronto (B.A.
Sociology, 1970). She also holds a certificate as a
"Creative Process Facilitator."


3. (U) From 1976-1978, Dr. Bethel taught in the Social
Sciences Department of the College of the Bahamas. Bethel
worked for the United Nations as Assistant Social Affairs
Officer in the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian
Affairs (CSDHA) from 1980-1983. She joined the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in 1983, where she worked as Deputy Chief of
Mission to The Bahamas mission to the UN until 1988, when she
moved to the same position for The Bahamas' mission to OAS.
She cites her chairing the Consultative Committee of UNIFEM
as a highlight of her tenure at OAS. She began working for
OAS directly in 1994, serving as Fellowship Director in 1994,
where she oversaw fellowship and training funds and a private
endowment fund. Ms. Bethel returned to The Bahamas in 1997
to work as Vice President of Administration for Montague
Securities International, a leading Bahamian international
financial services firm. From 2000 to 2003, she headed the
risk management and compliance operations for Cardinal
International Corporation, another leading financial services
firm. She was appointed to be The Bahamas Permanent
Representative to the United Nations in January 2003.


4. (C) Dr. Bethel is a closely connected Progressive Liberal
Party (PLP) insider. Milo Butler, revered as one of the
founders of the PLP and The Bahamas first Governor General,

was her uncle. She is the sister of PLP Minister of Energy
and the Environment Dr. Marcus Bethel. She is the
sister-in-law to PLP Minister of Health Dr. Bernard Nottage
and sister-in-law to PLP Minister of Education Alfred Sears.
Her brother, Owen Montague Bethel, founder of the Montague
Securities firm with whom she worked, worked as Executive
Director of the PLP Financial Services Secretariat beginning
in 1990. She is not related to The Bahamas' New York Consul
Ed Bethel. She is single and has one daughter, Avery.


5. (C) Dr. Bethel also has less desirable connections. Her
sister Ruby Nottage and brother-in-law Kendall Nottage have
been indicted in the US for money laundering related to
notorious drug trafficker Robert Vesco. Cardinal
International, the financial services firm with whom Dr.
Bethel worked from 1997-2000, closed its doors in 2004 while
under investigation by the Securities Commission of The
Bahamas for mismanagement of funds, allegedly including
mismanagement that occurred during Dr. Bethel's tenure
overseeing company compliance.


6. (C) During her tenure in the UN, Dr. Bethel has been
heavily involved in UN Reform issues, and in April 2006, she
began service as Vice Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group
(OEWG) on the Question of Equitable Representation on and
Increase in the Membership of the Security Council,
supporting the G-4 proposal for expansion. She is chair of
the International Association of Permanent Representatives.
She regularly speaks on behalf of CARICOM nations, and has
done so on UN reform, trade (sugar subsidies),nuclear
disarmament and other matters. Dr. Bethel is actively
involved in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) issues and
fora. She has been vocal in opposition to US possession of
nuclear weapons on several occasions, and spoke along with
Cuba, Vietnam, Iran and others against US weapons policies in
remarks to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee
in 2004. NOTE: While her prepared remarks were less direct,
oral additions to those remarks were reportedly sharply
critical of the US. END NOTE.

--------------
Mitchell/Bethel Relationship
--------------


7. (C) Bethel clearly plays an important role in the
development of Bahamian UN policy, along with Minister
Mitchell. Mitchell noted in a December 2005 speech that he
relies particularly on Bethel on issues involving Haiti and
United Nations Reform. Given Bethel's role as PLP party
insider, Post expects that she will adhere to official PLP
positions articulated by the Foreign Minister. CARICOM and
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) analysis also significantly inform
MFA decisions on UN issues.


8. (C) In June, Mitchell discussed The Bahamas' process for
UN decisionmaking. Following The Bahamas' vote for Cuba on
the UN Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Mitchell came
under criticism from Post, media and the public. Defending
The Bahamas' vote, Mitchell said that a recommendation
memorandum is prepared by staff in New York and cleared by
the Permanent Representative before being forwarded to the
Foreign Ministry. At the Foreign Ministry, Mitchell and his
staff review and clear the suggested positions. Mitchell
asserted that decisions, like the vote for Cuba on the UNHRC,
are part of "package voting" within country voting blocs,
presumably CARICOM and NAM.

--------------
Foreign Minister Mitchell's Participation
--------------


9. (C) Minister Mitchell is likely to be well-informed on UN
issues. Mitchell is the recent head of COFCOR, CARICOM's
foreign minister group, and remains a key foreign policy
figure in the region as he continues to expand The Bahamas'
international profile. He plans a meeting with Secretary
Rice on the margins of UNGA, further ensuring his preparation
on key issues.


10. (C) The General Assembly comes in the midst of
increasingly vigorous political campaigning for coming
elections. A close battle is anticipated, and speculation is
that the elections -- required no later than May 2007 -- will
be held in Winter. Post has raised concerns privately and
publicly about limited Bahamian support for positions
advocated by the US in the UN. Mitchell knows The Bahamas'
actions at the UNGA will likely be closely monitored at home
in the context of elections, and he may therefore have a
heightened sensitivity to local scrutiny of UNGA. Post will
forward a updated biography cable regarding Mitchell in
advance of UNGA.

--------------
Mitchell/Christie Relationship
--------------


11. (C) Prime Minister Christie has not been engaged on UN
and international issues. Sometimes criticized for failing
to attend international events, Christie is content to allow
Foreign Minister Mitchell to oversee Bahamian foreign policy.
Mitchell's relationship with PM Christie remains strong,
though he is not in Christie's inner circle and there is no
personal bond between them. Christie appears to trust
Mitchell's formulation and handling of foreign policy.
Though Christie has been privately critical of Mitchell on
occasion, Mitchell has significant ability to influence The
Bahamas' stance on UN and other foreign policy matters.
HARDT