DHS CWC ASSESSMENT TEAM JUMP-STARTS T&T

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000462 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP BRIDGETOWN FOR NAS CBP FOR DIANA MORRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016 TAGS: PREL KCRM SNAR TD SUBJECT: DHS CWC ASSESSMENT TEAM JUMP-STARTS T&T COORDINATION Classified By: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Department of Homeland Security-funded Cricket World Cup assessment TEAM highlighted the need for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) to coordinate better with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the form of its Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Fortunately, this trip jump-started the process, and included a meeting on April 11 that brought together the LOC with key representatives from the GOTT. Both sides agreed to keep each other informed so that efforts are not duplicated and so that policy decisions can be taken with input from all major stakeholders. ¶2. (C) Joan Massiah, Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister is the linchpin in the GOTT's policy-level CWC preparations. On short notice, she brought together key representatives from all involved GOTT agencies to meet with the DHS consultants. She is also going to be the main conduit of information for CWC preparations as she coordinates the sprawling system of committees and subcommittees involved in CWC preparations at the national level. The missing piece has been coordination with the LOC, which is responsible for game-day and venue operations. Massiah has a good working relationship with key members of the LOC and with CARICOM's Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS),and will be able to keep all sides informed as policies are implemented to facilitate CWC security. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Massiah combines the gravitas of the Office of the Prime Minister with the clout of being one of the most senior public servants in T&T, which means she can get things done. Additionally, her friendly relationship with key players in the LOC and IMPACS (apparently from shared prior public service) means that she can, and does, cut across bureaucratic lines to get information into the right hands. Although somewhat surprised that the GOTT had not yet coordinated its security planning with the LOC (which seems to be ahead of the curve),we believe that coordination will now begin in earnest, thanks to the exogenous pressure of the DHS assessment team spurring the GOTT into high gear. END COMMENT. AUSTIN