ST. VINCENT: OPPOSITION LEADER SEEKS US ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001563

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR ALAIN NORMAN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2017
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV INRB PREL XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT: OPPOSITION LEADER SEEKS US ASSISTANCE
IN CORRUPTION CASE

REF: A) BRIDGETOWN 1387

Classified By: PolOff Arend Zwartjes for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On December 20th, the St. Vincent and the
Grenadines opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) leader
Arnhim Eustace called PolOff to express his concern that the
current government is corrupted by the drug trade. In
relation to the criminal charges filed against him for
"making malicious remarks" about Minister of Housing Julian
Francis, Eustace informed PolOff that six police officers
were willing to testify that Francis did indeed participate
in the alleged "beach meeting" with a renowned drug lord.
Eustace asked for USG assistance in protecting the officers
from potential retribution from the government. End Summary.

The Saga of the "Beach Meeting" Continues
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2. (C) In a confidential phone conversation with PolOff,
Eustace (who expressed concern that government officials had
tapped his land line and so was calling on a cell phone) once
again raised the accusation that Minister of Housing,
Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning, and Lands and
Surveys Julian Francis had participated in a secret night
meeting on the beach with an infamous Vincentian drug lord
known as "Que Pasa" (Ref A). Eustace informed PolOff that
the criminal slander charges against him and radio host E.J.
Lynch had progressed and that the next hearing is scheduled
for January 9th. Eustace reiterated that the NDP has strong
evidence that the alleged meeting took place, stating that
six members of the police's Special Services Unit (SSU) or
"Black Unit" were willing to testify against Francis and
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lenroy Brewster.


3. (C) According to Eustace, the six SSU officers are
concerned that if they testify against government officials,
they will lose their jobs and possibly be in physical danger.
Eustace asked PolOff for possible USG assistance in the form
of visas or asylum for the officers if the need arose. He
continued to lament that the drug situation is "getting out
of control" in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Eustace said
that he is "coming to the conclusion that things are really
getting out of control" with drugs in SVG. Eustace noted
that SVG has now recorded 36 murders for the year, eight more
than the previous record set in 2005, and he claimed that "we
are on our way to becoming a failed state" in the sense that
drug interests have considerable influence within the current
government.

Comment
--------------


4. (C) Eustace's claim that six current SSU officers are
willing to testify marks the most concrete evidence he's been
able to produce to date, though his concerns for the
officers' safety are likely exaggerated. In a political
atmosphere where the Gonsalves administration has achieved
widespread popularity, the NDP appears left with no other
option than to attack the ruling government as corrupt and to
somehow tie the Gonsalves administration to the increasing
drug-related violence on the island. Despite Gonsalves'
apparent popularity, the issue of crime is a hot one,
especially since SVG just recorded its 36th murder of the
year, surpassing the prior record of 28 murders in 2005. If
Eustace is somehow able to convince police officers to
testify against Minister Francis and Deputy Commissioner
Brewster, it would have a huge impact on the credibility of
the Gonsalves' administration and considerably weaken the
government. End Comment.
OURISMAN