SVG PM GONSALVES TO CUBA FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000452 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-BUDDEN, INR/IAA-CARHART SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CU VC XL SUBJECT: SVG PM GONSALVES TO CUBA FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Likely as a guest of the state, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves will travel to Cuba April 13 for medical treatment, rest, and relaxation following a car accident in St. Vincent which resulted in his hospitalization on April 9. He is planning to be gone at least two weeks. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) According to various sources, PM Gonsalves sustained multiple injuries when his vehicle collided with a banana truck on April 9 in St. Vincent. Gonsalves was reportedly riding in the backseat of an SUV when it collided with the oncoming truck; it is unclear whether he and his driver were wearing seatbelts. Officials noted that the PM suffered minor neck and face injuries as well as shoulder pain and bruises on his abdomen. He lost two teeth and required five stiches on his lips. Gonsalves's driver was in worse condition, fracturing his neck and shoulder and spending the night and much of the next day unconscious. ¶3. (SBU) PM Gonsalves was released from the hospital late April 10. In addition to evaluating the injuries from the accident, medical personnel assessed that PM Gonsalves has high blood pressure and high cholesterol and needs to get into better shape. ¶4. (U) Both PM Gonsalves and his driver are traveling to Cuba on April 13 for further treatment. Minister of Health and the Environment Dr. Douglas Slater and Personal Security Sergeant Christopher Benjamin will accompany the Prime Minister. ¶5. (C) Various members of government, including Permanent Secretary for National Security Godfred Pompey, Press SIPDIS Secretary Hans King, and opposition Member of Parliament Dr. SIPDIS Godwin Friday, emphasized that PM Gonsalves's injuries are not serious and are centralized around his mouth and teeth. King claimed the primary purpose of trip to Cuba is rest because the PM would receive too many phone calls if he stayed in St. Vincent. ¶6. (C) Although the official press report says PM Gonsalves will be gone at least two weeks, Pompey pessimistically informed PolOff that he hoped it would not be much longer than that. Government business will likely continue as usual without the dominant presence of Gonsalves; MP Friday confirmed that Parliament is still scheduled to convene on April 26. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: PM Gonsalves's decision to travel to Cuba for medical treatment is yet another illustration of his strong relationship with Fidel Castro and Cuba. Previous examples include three official trips to Cuba in 2005, speaking at the Havana-hosted Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 2006, and accepting various forms of Cuban assistance, including construction labor for the new airport, energy-efficient light bulbs, and scholarships for nurses. Given the close bilateral relationship throughout Gonsalves' tenure, Post suspects Gonsalves is an official guest of the state of Cuba and enjoying his medical treatment gratis. OURISMAN