Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRIDGETOWN1475
2007-12-04 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:
ST. VINCENT REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHWN #1475 3381231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041231Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5837 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0086 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001475
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CAR
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL PINR PGOVCU CU XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF
THE LIBERTAD ACT
REF: A. A) STATE 158768
¶B. B) BRIDGETOWN 1377
¶C. C) BRIDGETOWN 452
Classified By: PolOff Arend Zwartjes for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) The five questions in reftel A are answered below, in a Q
and A format:
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Investments
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Q1 - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?
A1 - There are no St. Vincent and the Grenadines businesses
known to have investments in Cuba.
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Trade Agreements
--------------
Q2 - Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host
country and Cuba?
A2 - Yes. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has active
bilateral tax and investment treaties with Cuba. In
addition, CARICOM has a trade agreement with Cuba that St.
Vincent and the Grenadines has ratified.
--------------
Exchange Programs
--------------
Q3 - Are there any exchange programs between host country and
Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host
country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel
for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host
country?
A3 - Yes. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the recipient of
Cuban scholarships and Cuban-paid medical travel for St.
Vincent and the Grenadines nationals in need of eye surgery.
There is no wide-scale program to utilize Cuban doctors in
the local health care system.
--------------
Democracy and Human Rights
--------------
Q4 - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?
Q4 - No. Vincent and the Grenadines has done nothing to
advance democracy and human rights in Cuba, although PM
Gonsalves recently claimed to Embassy Bridgetown that this is
why they oppose the embargo (Ref B).
--------------
High-Level Visits
--------------
Q5 - Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between
Cuba and host country in the past six months?
A5 - Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves traveled to Cuba in April
2007 for medical treatment (Ref C).
HOWARD