THIRD CWC 2007 ISAG MEETING: CWC TO WALK BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000284 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR KAREN WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL FORTIN STATE FOR WHA/OAS CAROL FULLER STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS RUSH MARBURG STATE PASS TO DS FOR MARK WRIGHTE SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA CARYN HOLLIS SOUTHCOM FOR BILL VANCIO SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DHS FOR BRAD KIDWELL CPB FOR MIKE LOVEJOY AND DAVID DODSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017 TAGS: ASEC PREL PTER CASC PINR KCIP KTIA XL SUBJECT: THIRD CWC 2007 ISAG MEETING: CWC TO WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT...OR PLANNING REF: 06 BRIDGETOWN 1849 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARY OURISMAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The International Support and Advisory Group (ISAG) for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 held its third plenary session February 23 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The objective of the meeting was to bring together the group of hosting and playing nations and the international community for one final status update and one final plea for resources. The representatives from the various countries and international organizations outlined the security preparations for the upcoming tournament, highlighting accomplishments such as the now functioning Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). Some work remains, and many protocols and agreements are not yet in place. A main focus of concern for the USG, consular accreditation, still remains problematic. As the region's leaders rush to put the final pieces into place prior to the March ll launch in Jamaica, some holes in preparedness may end up being filled by hope and faith. -------------- PARTICIPANTS -------------- ¶2. (U) CARICOM for CWC: Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley; Chairman of the National Security and Law Enforcement Council for CARICOM, Martin Joseph; Barbados Minister of Health Jerome Walcott, Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall; Colonel Antony Anderson from the CARICOM Operations Planning Agency for Crime and Security (COPACS); Trinidad and Tobago's Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) Director Lynne-Anne Williams and Louis Baptiste from the Joint Regional Coordinating Center (JRCC); Safiya Ali from the CARICOM Legal Department; the Barbados MFA Consular Chief; Francesca Flessati of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Duncan Jarrett of the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard); and representatives from the Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS),the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA),the International Cricket Council (ICC),and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). (Note: ISAG Chair DPM Mottley arrived over 90 minutes late because she had to attend a funeral. In her absence, Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Security Joseph took the chair. Jamaican Security Minister Peter Phillips was in Jamaica hosting INTERPOL head Ron Noble and was unable to attend the meeting. End Note.) International Delegations: Canadian High Commissioner Michael Welsh, British High Commissioner Duncan Taylor, British Deputy High Commissioner Alan Drury, British Naval Attach Captain Peter Morgan, and the UK Home Office Caribbean Desk Officer, Australian High Commissioner John Michell, Mark Beauchemin of INTERPOL, and a representative from OAS Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE). (Note: Representatives from Brazil, South Africa, and India were unable to attend because of missed flight connections. End Note.) U.S. Delegation: Head of Delegation Ambassador Mary M. Ourisman, Deputy Chief of Mission Mary Ellen T. Gilroy, Deputy Consul General Laurie Major, CWC Coordinator Ann Jackson, Legal Attach Samuel Bryant, Regional Affairs Officer John Ent, Assistant Regional Security Officer Sean Nedd and Political Officer Christopher R. Reynolds (notetaker). ¶3. (U) Caribbean and international community representatives met February 23 in Bridgetown, Barbados to discuss the final plans for ensuring public safety in advance of and during Cricket World Cup (CWC). The 10-item agenda moved quickly, unlike the two previous ISAG meetings. The topics discussed were security structures, status of forces, health and safety, the single domestic space, and consular concerns. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley who arrived late after attending a funeral. In her opening remarks, she summed up CARICOM's attitude toward CWC and its security situation by quoting a verse from 2 Corinthians 5-7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." -------------- THREAT ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) A representative from the Port of Spain-based Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC) gave a breakdown of the regional threat assessment. The threat level for teams, officials, and media is low. The threat level for interests of the United States, United Kingdom, India, and Pakistan is high. The intelligence threat was broken down into: transnational threats, domestic crime, and the targeting of foreigners. The PowerPoint on the threat assessment co-mingled identified terrorists with criminals. (Note: The PowerPoint was displayed on large screens set up in the conference room which had glass walls looking out onto the pool area of the resort. The slides marked "SECRET" could easily be seen by those passing by the room to and from the pool. End Note.) The Port of Spain RIFC is staffed with Regional Liaison Officers and International Liaison Officers (ILO). The contribution of ILOs is: INTERPOL 3, UK 1 (arriving March 12),South Africa 1 (arriving early), Pakistan 1 (arriving March),and Australia 1 (in place March 1-24). ¶5. (C) The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) is a key component of regional security. The RIFC representative assessed that "APIS is working quite effectively," noting that the input from the international partners was "invaluable." Most of the hits are not terror-related, but come from CARICOM watch lists. At the moment, there is nothing to suggest a threat from extra-regional arrivals. (Note: CBP reports that APIS is "working better than expected." End Note.) Trinidad and Tobago Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) Director Lynne-Anne Williams, from the Joint Regional Coordinating Centre, said that 70 percent of the airlines flying into the region were compliant with either APIS or e-APIS. The European carriers are respecting the region's APIS requirements. The only major airline not compliant is United Airlines. The UK HC asked if the CARICOM/US Operational Protocols for APIS were finalized and raised European concerns about data protection issues. Louis Baptiste sidestepped a direct answer, saying that APIS was running. There was no further mention of privacy concerns. -------------- ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMAND AND CONTROL -------------- ¶6. (C) South Africa plans to send 70 police (specialties not mentioned) who will accompany the South African team. They will be deployed to Grenada (April 10-21),St. Lucia (April 25),and Barbados (April 28). Barbados will furnish a field with military tents to accommodate them. Bangladesh will provide an EOD team. Australia will contribute three advisors to the Regional Operations Coordination Centre (ROCC) and at least one EOD technician. India will contribute two 11-person EOD and IODD teams, one to be located in Jamaica and the other in Guyana. Canada plans to send public health advisors. Bermuda might possibly offer medical support. France offered naval support and will have air assets on tap (helicopters and Hercules transport) to provide medevac services. At the press conference DPM Mottley stated the Netherlands has offered "over the horizon" capacity. Also at the press conference Barbados Health Minister Walcott identified The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands as providing unspecified support. According to DPM Mottley, the details of United States and United Kingdom "over-the-horizon" support are to be worked out. (Note: The UK HC told DCM on the margins that one, possibly two, UK warships as well as an E-3 radar plane will be in the region. However, they will likely be part of JIATF-S operations and not specifically dedicated to CWC. End Note.) ¶7. (C) Command and Control: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning is the CARICOM lead, Barbados DPM Mia Mottley is the lead minister. (Note: In CARICOM member state bureaucracy, heads of government take on one or more issues/specialty portfolios, and in that capacity can speak on the subject for all member states. The lead minister is the one who does the heavy lifting. End Note.) The Police Commissioner of the CWC host nation where the games are held will have command and control of any off-island police/forces/troops. The Regional Operations Coordination Centre (ROCC) and the CARICOM Crisis Coordination Team (CCCT) were to be activated on February 26 and be fully operational March 1. In a man-made incident the ROCC and Colonel Anderson will take the operational lead; policy and strategic direction will come from the ministerial level. The CCCT will convene in a crisis; the prime minister of the affected country will request assistance. If necessary, Prime Minister Manning has the authority to intervene and provide leadership. (Note: There have been some positive developments. As of March 1, Dominica has still not been connected to CISNET. However, the CCCT is fully functional and the Secure Video Conferencing equipment was successfully tested. End Note.) ¶8. (U) In the event of a threat to public health and safety, the CWC host nation will trigger standard international response mechanisms (CDERA or PAHO). Under the umbrella of CDERA and/or PAHO, a command structure will be established to liaise with the ROCC and CCCT. -------------- SOFA -------------- ¶9. (C) The proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) will cover both police and defense forces. The Attorneys General of CWC host nations are working on legislation to submit to their respective parliaments, though some ISAG attendees expressed concern that an MOU or SOFA might not be the best mechanism should outside forces be needed. CWC/CARICOM remains open to conclude any necessary instruments appropriate to the type of assistance offered/needed. -------------- THE SINGLE DOMESTIC SPACE -------------- ¶10. (U) DPM Mottley announced that the 10-nation Single Domestic Space was now fully operational and that once passengers were cleared into the region, passport inspection was not required. She stated that 85-90 percent of the airlines were transmitting data. (Note: This is higher than the figure SIA Director Lynne-Anne Williams put forward. End Note.) Mottley said that LIAT was the single largest carrier in the region (in terms of passengers moved),but it was still using fax and e-mail to transmit manifests. By March 1, it should be transmitting via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Regular carriers and charter flights were currently compliant with APIS; APIS will "move soon" to private flights. Some of the larger cruise lines were compliant with APIS. Private yachts were the biggest concern, as it is impossible to achieve full compliance from all small vessels. ¶11. (C) Mottley then launched into harsh criticism of the international community (not by name but by implication the United States and United Kingdom) for failure to provide the heightened level of security sought by CARICOM heads. Her litany included the withdrawal by HMG of an alleged promise by then-FonMin Jack Straw to provide AWACS; lack of radar coverage; lack of maritime surveillance; and failure to provide a robust visible security presence to deter possible terrorists. (Comment: Her argument that when the CARICOM Heads decided in 1998 to host the CWC there was no September 11, no Afghanistan, no Iraq, and that the region was subsequently forced to take extreme security measures for foreign policy decisions made by unnamed others reveals the profoundly insular belief that time should stand still for and the world should exempt the Caribbean from the issues that face other nations. End Comment.) -------------- CARIBBEAN HOGS MEETING -------------- ¶12. (U) Mottley next listed a series of decisions that were made at the February 12-14, 2007, Caribbean Heads of Government (HOGs) intercessional meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. -- The JRCC would remain fully operational after CWC to support the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). -- The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the foundation document of CARICOM, would add security cooperation as the fourth pillar. (The other three being economic cooperation, foreign affairs cooperation, and functional cooperation on trade issues.) -- Adding a protocol to the security assistance treaty to establish COPACS. -- Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Security, and Tourism will form a task force to review the possibility of making the common visa for CWC feature. The visa exemption/waiver is based on those countries with which CARICOM has close security cooperation (this includes the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada). -- Creation of the Single Domestic Space as a permanent feature; a report will be done on how to facilitate the movement of CARICOM nationals around the region without compromising sovereignty. -- IMPACS will create a framework to integrate police and criminal records throughout the region. -------------- CONSULAR ACCREDITATION -------------- ¶13. (C) United Kingdom security expert Francesca Flessatti explained that the ICC controls accreditation. The current ICC position is that routine consular accreditation is not required. Consular representatives will be treated as emergency service personnel. In response to a query as to how to identify these consular representatives, the CARICOM response was that contact information should be exchanged in advance and those on the consular list will be contacted by telephone. Minister Joseph elaborated that each National Security Plan designated a host country official as a consular liaison. This individual will contact consular officials once an incident triggered the "emergency reaction" communications reaction. Barbados DPM Mottley explained that in an emergency, the ICC no longer controlled the venue, the national authority would assume command. ¶14. (C) A lengthy discussion ensued about what constitutes an emergency, including a request from Canada for written instructions on what to do if a crisis is declared. The USG explained its position (the most forward-leaning of the international community) that consular officials must be accredited in advance of a crisis, rather than relying on credentialing after an incident occurred. ¶15. (C) The UK and Australia have already purchased tickets for consular officials to attend games. While this guarantees a consular presence, it does not guarantee access to areas of the stadium where they may be needed. Australia raised the possibility that the ICC/CWC or host nation may need consular help outside of a crisis. Australia cautioned CARICOM and the CWC representatives that there could be negative media coverage should routine consular access be impeded. ¶16. (C) Immediately following the ISAG meeting, Barbados DPM Mottley and Derrick Jones, the honorary consul for Sweden in Jamaica and the legal counsel of Jamaica-based West Indies CWC, had a frank and to-the-point discussion about consular accreditation with DCM. Jones claims the USG agreed to the ICC position of no need for consular accreditation for presence/access during the games. Jones bases this position on an exchange of e-mails between ICC and the Department. The DCM reiterated the need for consular accreditation in advance of a crisis and reminded Jones that the USG is still waiting for a formal reply to Under Secretary Fore's letter to ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed. ICC controls the stadium, but in the event of a crisis (defined by ICC and/or host government/CARICOM),host government law enforcement will take control of the stadium and will issue "emergency accreditation/access" post-incident. CARICOM claims it is helpless to pressure ICC. ICC and CARICOM agree that the host government will immediately take over in the event of an emergency, contact appropriate consular authorities, and everything will run smoothly. Finally, DCM responded that given the circumstances, it might be prudent to post an appropriate note on the Consular Affairs website (e.g., AmCits beware as normal consular accreditation/access has been denied by CWC game organizers). The CARICOM government representatives offered no response. Jones took offense at the prospect of a consular warning but he and DCM subsequently discussed how to provide credentials for consular officers so that they are prepared for any eventuality requiring their services; Jones promised to contact the ICC concerning the USG's concerns. Post is awaiting the ICC's response. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶17. (C) Time is up for the Eastern Caribbean. As one presenter correctly put it, "We are going through the door of Cricket World Cup." The ISAG meeting contrasted the region's strengths and weaknesses in preparedness for the challenges of hosting the third largest sporting event in the world. It now appears that the actual sporting venues will be ready in time for CWC; however, there are still many unanswered questions about having adequate accommodations and transportation infrastructure to handle the anticipated tens of thousands of visitors. An elaborate command and control structure has been established, but without blanket MOUs and SOFAs in place it is uncertain how quickly or effectively it could respond to an emergency. With major security questions still unanswered such as immigration controls for passengers of private yachts and uncertain protocols for foreign law enforcement officers conducting police functions in host nations, a minor incident could quickly escalate beyond the regional security infrastructure's ability to deal with it. GILROY