CWC ASSISTANCE DEMARCHE: DETAILS WOULD BE

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000690 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER OAS XL TD SUBJECT: CWC ASSISTANCE DEMARCHE: DETAILS WOULD BE APPRECIATED REF: STATE 080802 ¶1. (U) Political Officer delivered the demarche contained reftel to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas Desk, Multilateral Affairs Desk and Protocol Office (as each office has a hand due to how this assistance is proposed to be delivered),and passed a copy to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Security (no representatives were present, but post did have a telephone conference with the Office of the Prime Minister). Conversations were quite positive, with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) generally expressing its support for the proposed assistance. The "smart card" system did not come up in discussions. ¶2. (SBU) GOTT representatives were eager to know specifics of the training that is being proposed. They wanted to know when the trainings would be held in T&T and how many would be trained for security screening. These questions are likely motivated by ongoing staffing shortfalls in customs and excise and immigration screeners. Additionally, the Office of the Prime Minister asked about the linkage between Third Border Initiative funds and Article 98 restrictions, as T&T has not signed an Article 98 agreement. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Overall, T&T is supportive of these initiatives to assist with Cricket World Cup, and ready to move forward quickly. Largely, post and the GOTT see this as an opportunity to further our security relationship and to review and strengthen T&T's overall border security. We will seek comment from CARICOM's regional security agency once the director returns to the office. END COMMENT. AUSTIN