AMBASSADOR OURISMAN'S MEETING WITH BARBADOS AG

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000632

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND INL AND CA/OCS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DHS FOR A/S ROSENZWEIG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ASEC CASC SNAR ECON ETRD BB XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR OURISMAN'S MEETING WITH BARBADOS AG
DALE MARSHALL

REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 229


B. BRIDGETOWN 399

C. BRIDGETOWN 397

Classified By: AMB Mary Ourisman for reasons 1.4 (d) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a May 11 introductory meeting with
Ambassador Mary Ourisman, Barbados Attorney General Dale
Marshall thanked the United States for its assistance during
Cricket World Cup and looked forward to further cooperation
in the areas of security and law enforcement. He also
requested on behalf of the Eastern Caribbean, U.S. assistance
with the acquisition of additional maritime assets.
Ambassador Ourisman raised the seized weapons shipment,
imported under the Foreign Military Financing program and
being held by Barbados Customs, as well as the case of an
American prisoner who needs medical treatment. End Summary.

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Cricket World Cup
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2. (C) Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall began his
first official meeting with Ambassador Ourisman by formally
thanking her for the generous U.S. assistance during Cricket
World Cup (CWC). Marshall said the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) welcomed the specialized police and disaster
training, the presence of USS Carney in the region, and the
enhanced border security thanks to the Advance Passenger
Information System (APIS). He also expressed his
appreciation for the productive visit of DHS Acting Assistant
Secretary Paul Rosenzweig in February (ref A). This meeting

SIPDIS
was key in enabling APIS to go live before the start of CWC.
Marshall appreciated the "respect" that the USG accorded
CARICOM during the APIS negotiations, with the United States
treating CARICOM as an equal partner, on the same level as
the European Union. In response to Ambassador Ourisman's
question about the status of CARICOM's response to U.S.
suggestions on the text of the operational protocols,
Marshall said that CARICOM was waiting for the outcome of
negotiations for a renewed U.S./EU APIS agreement as CARICOM
hoped to have the same data use and retention provisions.

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Caribbean Regional Maritime Agreement
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3. (SBU) Marshall said discussions on the Caribbean Regional
Maritime Agreement (CRMA) foundered as the USG seemed
disinclined to provide the Eastern Caribbean with desired
equipment. (Note: The CRMA is a 2003 agreement that covers
boarding rights during counter-narcotics operations. In
response to the original USG demarche on CRMA, several, but
not all CARICOM member states drafted a list of desired
equipment as a signing quid pro quo. End Note.) Marshall
stated that Barbados recently spent USD 20 million on coast
guard vessels from the Dutch shipbuilding company Damen, but
that some of the other islands in the region lack the
resources to obtain maritime assets. In his opinion, CARICOM
nations need ships more than technical assistance. The lack
of ships and coastal craft is hindering the smaller nations'
ability to conduct drug interdiction and rescue operations.


4. (SBU) The DCM explained that there are benefits for
nations that sign the CRMA, but the CRMA did not envision the
provision of equipment to CRMA signatories. Ambassador
Ourisman noted the extensive U.S. assistance provided to
date, including the FMF-funded Technical Assistance Field
Team (refs B and C). The Ambassador also mentioned the May
13-18 inauguration of the State Partnership Program, which
will bring together CARICOM's Regional Security System (RSS)
with the National Guards of Florida and the U.S. Virgin
Islands to cooperate on security, disaster preparedness and
response, as well as education.

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Confiscated Weapons
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5. (C) Ambassador Ourisman inquired into the case of a
consignment of weapons which had been seized by Barbados
Customs in 2006 due to inadequate advance notification by the
United States. The weapons had been procured under the
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program for St. Lucia and
Dominica. Ambassador Ourisman stressed that the Embassy now
has in place proper procedures to preclude future problems.
Marshall was familiar with the situation, but noted that his
Ministry was not in a position to assist. He promised to
forward the request for assistance to the Prime Minister,
whose portfolio also includes defense and security.

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Medical Assistance for an Amcit Prisoner
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6. (SBU) Ambassador Ourisman sought assistance from Marshall
in the case of Amcit Terry Moore. Moore was arrested in
Barbados on May 12, 2006, for possession of illegal drugs and
firearms. In June 2006, Moore asked for Embassy assistance
in scheduling a doctor's visit to examine a lesion on his arm
that he thought could be cancerous. The Embassy requested
six times that Moore be provided with medical attention,
which was never provided. Marshall stated he would contact
the Superintendent of Prisons about this case. (Note: After
the meeting PolOff provided the Attorney General's Office
with copies of the Embassy's letters to the Superintendent.
Post plans to follow up to ensure action is taken. End Note.)

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COMMENT
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7. (C) Ambassador Ourisman's first official meeting with
Attorney General Dale Marshall came soon after the conclusion
of Cricket World Cup, which for the Eastern Caribbean proved
to be a security success. The CWC host countries have
pledged to continue their stepped up security cooperation,
and it is in U.S. interest to build on this momentum and
assist them in strengthening regional security. Marshall's
voice is yet another from the region asking the United States
to remain engaged in the Caribbean. This message will likely
be amplified during the June Conference on the Caribbean in
Washington. The planned FMF cuts, in particular, will
undermine the region's capabilities. The FMF-funded
Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) has been key to
keeping the region's existing maritime assets afloat.
Marshall also repeated a frequent theme of our Caribbean
interlocutors -- that the region appreciates U.S. training
and technical assistance, but is in desperate need of
equipment and material support. In post's opinion, the
region needs both kinds of assistance, and we urge Washington
agencies to continue exploring ways to ensure that the gains
we have made to date in improving the region's security
infrastructure and capacity is not lost.
OURISMAN