PROPOSED CHANGES TO APIS UNFEASIBLE:T&T RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 001445 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CAR - MICHAEL FORTIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAIR KJUS XL TD SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHANGES TO APIS UNFEASIBLE:T&T RESPONSE REF: STATE 199855 Classified By: DCM Eugene P. Sweeney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. Ambassador Austin delivered the points contained in Reftel to Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, discussing them with the minister on three separate occasions. The Ambassador emphasized to Joseph the technical impossibility, at this late stage in the development of the software for the Advance Passenger Information System, of attempting to add new system requirements to APIS, particularly given the scarcity of time remaining before the scheduled opening of Cricket World Cup. ¶2. Based on these conversations, it appears to us that it is not T&T which has been pressing for additional system requirements to be tacked on to APIS. Nevertheless, Joseph said that, in view of the points made by the Ambassador, he would look into the matter and undertook to get back to the Ambassador with a response. ¶3. As reported to the Department in a December 18 telcon, the bill ratifying the Memorandum of Intent for the creation of APIS (faxed to the Department on December 18),which had passed the Senate on November 14, was passed by the House of Representatives on December 15 and is now awaiting assent by the President. AUSTIN