SCENESETTER FOR DHS SECRETARY CHERTOFF'S VISIT TO T&T

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PORT OF SPAIN 000920

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DHS FOR SECRETARY CHERTOFF FROM CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EUGENE SWEENEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER OVIP ASEC CARICOM TD
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR DHS SECRETARY CHERTOFF'S VISIT TO T&T



1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


2. (U) Secretary Chertoff, my team and I look forward to welcoming
you to Trinidad and Tobago. T&T is a major political and economic
player in the region, and your visit will help underscore the
importance we place on good relations with T&T and the wider
Caribbean. The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago holds the
security portfolio within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Due
to this fact, it is fitting that you meet with him and a
representative grouping of the CARICOM Security Ministers here.
This welcome cable will first provide a brief overview of the
country, second look at potential topics that will be covered in
your bilateral meeting and third, touch on some of the issues for
your multilateral meeting.

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T&T IN A (COCO)NUTSHELL
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3. (U) The Caribbean twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is
slightly smaller than Delaware. It is home to some 1.3 million
people, primarily of African or East Indian descent. These groups
each make up approximately 40 percent of the population, with
people of Chinese, Lebanese and European descent and those of
mixed ethnicity making up the balance. The government is based on
the Westminster model, with a largely ceremonial President, an
appointed Senate, and an elected House of Representatives. The
judiciary is independent. The two major political parties are the
Peoples National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress
(UNC),which have alternated power, illustrating the strength of
T&TQs democracy. The parties are heavily, but not exclusively,
based on ethnicity, with the PNM supported largely by Afro-
Trinidadians and the UNC by Indo-Trinidadians.


4. (SBU) In regional politics, it could be said that T&T is an
opinion shaper. Manning just completed a six-month tenure as
Chairman of CARICOM, a period marked by a renewed emphasis on
regional economic integration. T&T receives high marks for its
commitment to the needs of the smaller countries of the Eastern
Caribbean. Beyond CARICOM, T&T maintains correct but cool
relations with Venezuela, largely due to differences of opinion
over Petrocaribe and Chavez's regional aspirations. T&T views
Cuba as a Caribbean brother and maintains amicable ties. Manning
regularly goes to Cuba for medical attention.


5. (SBU) The country has a vibrant industrialized economy. In
recent years, the government has reversed direction from the
divestment and privatization decisions of the 1990s by creating
more than a dozen new state enterprises and, at one point,
resuming full control of the national airline (from which it is
now extricating itself). Trinidad and TobagoQs relative abundance
of economic resources makes it a leader in the region. T&T is
considered a low-risk investment destination. The T&T dollar
remains stable in value against the U.S. dollar, contributing to
the country's attractiveness to foreign investment. The
Government regularly courts foreign investors, with U.S. companies
usually taking the lead.


6. (U) One of the primary USG interests in T&T is energy
security: the country provides approximately 75 percent of U.S.
liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. New fields are still being
located and explored, including ones on the T&T/Venezuela maritime
boundary. Even as new gas discoveries are made, the government is
focused on developing the countryQs gas-based downstream
industries, specifically methanol, urea, and ammonia, in order to
diversify the energy industry and ensure its long-term growth.
ALCOA is in the planning process to build a large capacity
aluminum smelter in the south of the country (with bauxite
provided from Guyana and Jamaica). T&T has permission from
CARICOM to begin discussing a "partial-scope" free trade agreement
with the United States that would provide duty-free entry for non-
energy petroleum products, an indication of the country's long-
term economic strategy.


7. (U) Many regional organizations are headquartered in Port of
Spain, including the Association of Caribbean States, the
Caribbean Epidemiological Center (CAREC) and the Caribbean Court
of Justice. The CARICOM security apparatus (the Implementation
Agency for Crime and Security, or IMPACS) is located here, keeping
with the T&T Prime Minister's security portfolio in the CARICOM
quasi-Cabinet. When the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas
(FTAA) was under active discussion, Port of Spain lobbied to host
the Secretariat; in fact, you can still see banners in the airport
proclaiming "Port of SpainQThe Natural home of the FTAA."

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DRUGS, CRIME AND OTHER SECURITY THREATS

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8. (SBU) The countryQs location just seven miles off the coast of
Venezuela makes drug trafficking a major challenge. Narcotics
from South America transit Trinidad and TobagoQs waters or move
through the airports. Illegal drug use and trafficking are
increasing and so are attendant societal ills. The narcotics
trade is likely linked to the ever-increasing number of murders
and other violent crimes that plague the country. The government
faces an uphill battle in trying to control these problems,
exacerbated by inadequate border controls, corruption in the
police service and an inefficient judiciary. Trinidad and
TobagoQs vibrant petrochemical industry has the potential for
precursor chemical diversion for use in illegal drug production.
The countryQs growing economy, well developed banking sector,
communications and transportation systems, facilitate a
significant number of sizeable financial transactions that can
obscure money laundering.


9. (SBU) Rising violent crime has been one area of particular
concern over the last several years. T&T has seen significant
increases in murders and kidnappings since 2000. In 2005 there
were 384 murders, the highest number recorded in any one year.
2006 appears to be on track to exceed this number. With the
notable exception of kidnapping for ransom, which has decreased
dramatically this year, the GOTT has been unable to effectively
address rising crime, partially due to corrupt and inefficient
police, inadequate disciplinary systems, an inefficient judiciary
and political intransigence. This, coupled with perceptions that
some criminal organizations operate relatively freely, has led to
a loss of confidence in the GOTTQs ability to solve the crime
problem. To date, this has not affected foreign direct investment
or tourism, however several local business families have fled the
country.


10. (SBU) Embassy Port of Spain is engaged in a comprehensive
anti-crime and counter narcotics strategy that aims to assist the
T&T law enforcement agencies with narcotics detection and
interdiction, equip the judiciary with the skills necessary to
successfully prosecute crimes in an increasingly complex
environment and train the financial sector in detecting and
preventing money laundering and financial crimes and to provide
youth with life skills and alternatives to crime. Recent programs
include anti-kidnapping courses provided by the FBI, assistance
with drug interdiction and arrests of a major kidnapping ring and
training for pilots engaged in aerial surveillance. The TT Police
have cited publicly such training programs and arrests as
important components in the successful battle with kidnappers.
Key players in implementing the EmbassyQs strategy include the
State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
program, a DHS Customs and Border Protection team, the Legal
Attache, the Military Liaison Office (headed by a US Coast Guard
Representative) and our DEA office.

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BILATERAL ISSUES
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11. (SBU) In your meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning and
Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, we anticipate that
they will raise the following issues:

- Early Hurricane Warning Systems
- Maritime Security
- Criminal Deportees
- LNG/Petroleum Infrastructure Security
- Increased USCG/TT Coast Guard Exercises
- Continued Support for the OAS/CICTE Initiative to Provide
Security for Tourism and Recreational Facilities
- Article 98 Exemptions


12. (SBU) Many of these issues fall squarely into your area of
expertise, and we defer to you and your capable team on those
issues. CICTE is the counterterrorism committee of the
Organization of American States, and the United States and
Trinidad and Tobago have worked in close cooperation to ensure
that CICTE is an effective organization. Minister Joseph is the
immediate past chair of CICTE, and committed himself to passing
and implementing security provisions for tourism and recreational
facilities. We supported him then, and we continue to support
this initiative.


13. (SBU) Maritime Security and Joint Interdiction Exercises:
T&T is deeply interested in improving its maritime security
capabilities. Largely, this would mean increasing patrol
capability to interdict narcotics and other illicit materials
while they remain off the coast. T&T is seven miles off the coast
of Venezuela, with a long coastline that includes a number of

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secluded bays and coves. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard
generally works well with other law enforcement entities to pursue
traffickers, but no agency has enough resources to effectively
interdict all illicit items. Further complicating the effort is
the lack of a clear delineation of responsibilities; it is often
unclear which agency is responsible for making an arrest when a
boat enters the waters, then crosses into the river system and
lands. We understand that Manning will likely raise the question
of increasing joint patrols and cooperation with the USCG and
other agencies in order to improve the efficiency of the T&T
interdiction agencies. Manning is also likely to raise asking for
USG assistance in expanding the range of the T&T Coast Guard to
include several of the small island nations just to the north of
T&T such as Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St.
Lucia.


14. (SBU) Criminal Deportees: This is an ongoing point of
contention in the entire Caribbean. The Caribbean countries claim
that recent increases in crime rates can be attributed in good
part to criminal deportees who return to their country of
nationality after long absences. They argue that these nationals
are no longer well-integrated into the society, and might have
stronger ties with the U.S. or Canada than their home island.
Further, the Caribbean countries assert that once their nationals
are placed in American prisons, they learn "more sophisticated
criminal techniques" that they export to their home turf, meaning
that law enforcement cannot keep up with their technological
advances. CARICOM countries have only anecdotal evidence to
support these strongly felt and widely shared claims, but have
commissioned studies to explore the issue. PM Manning is
especially interested in receiving advance notice of any criminal
deportee to T&T. Actually, ICE provides the T&T Embassy in
Washington with three business days advance notice, per the
memorandum of understanding on criminal deportees. We suspect
that by the time the Embassy informs the GOTT, the deportee is
already en route.


15. (SBU) LNG/Petroleum Infrastructure Security: T&T is well
aware of its energy infrastructure vulnerabilities. In fact, the
country's facilities are relatively well protected, with the
loading docks in the LNG complexes more secure than the commercial
shipping ports, but ships full of LNG or other petroleum products
present an attractive target of opportunity. Manning will likely
ask about possible assistance/advice in improving security in this
area, as T&T provides approximately 75 percent of U.S. LNG
imports.


16. (SBU) Article 98: This is a more difficult issue due to T&T
former President RobinsonQs key role in instituting the
International Criminal Court (ICC). T&T was one of the first ICC
signatories, has not signed an Article 98 agreement with the U.S.,
and likely never will because of a perception that it would be
seen as "undermining" the ICC. In spite of this, T&T would like
increased assistance that could help them take on narcotics or
weapons traffickers and fight crime. Manning is likely to broach
the subject, looking for ways to work around Nethercutt
restrictions (that is, how can they get similar assistance without
signing an agreement).

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MULTILATERAL PREPARATION
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17. (SBU) Your multilateral meeting will be with the security
ministers of the "CARICOM Bureau for Security," that is, T&T,
Jamaica and Barbados (plus a representative from CARICOM, and
likely one of the Eastern Caribbean States). These three
countries together form the core group for sub-head of government
level security issues. In addition to the hurricane early warning
system and other regional issues mentioned above, the multilateral
meeting is likely to include the following issues:

- Increased Security for the Eastern Caribbean
- Immigration Concerns with a Regional Witness Protection Program
- Port Security (with an emphasis on cruise ships and yachts)
- The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
- Ongoing Cricket World Cup Security Assistance (that is, the
APIS system and other training)


18. (SBU) On the witness protection program, CARICOM is
interested in implementing a truly regional program, since each
island population is small enough that it is nearly impossible to
effectively create a completely new identity and life for
witnesses. CARICOM might bring up the issue of including the U.S.
Caribbean territories in the system, but is cognizant of the
immigration concerns.


19. (SBU) CARICOM is likely to inquire if there is any assistance

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available to the countries to helpimplement and facilitate the
Western Hemisphere ravel Initiative (WHTI). Many felt that the
iniial Cricket World Cup package of a biometric smartard would
be a "pilot program" for integrating the Caribbean into the WHTI.
CARICOM on its own canot afford such a system, and had hoped for
U.S. unding to help make it a reality. Even if this spcific
issue is not raised, CARICOM will likely iquire into the impacts
of the WHTI on the tourism economies in the region.


20. (U) Again, my tea and I look forward to welcoming you to
Port of pain. This is a crucial visit, and we know that CRICOM
and PM Manning will be pleased that you hae taken the time to
travel to the far end of the Caribbean region to address mutual
concerns.

SWEENEY