ST. LUCIA - BLUE LANTERN ON LICENSE 05-1014600 FOR

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000721 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC BB XL SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA - BLUE LANTERN ON LICENSE 05-1014600 FOR G & T, INC. REF: STATE 43536 ¶1. Post conducted a site visit to two locations operated by G & T, Inc. in St. Lucia to assess its operations and on-site security. Post has no concerns of the security of firearm and ammunition inventory at these locations. Post did not uncover any derogatory information on the foreign consignee, Gregory Jean-Baptiste of G & T, Inc., and he appears to be a reliable recipient of USML items. Jean-Baptiste is also licensed and authorized to import and sell firearms and ammunition in accordance with St. Lucian laws. ¶2. G & T, Inc. was established in March 1998, and its principals are the owner, Gregory Jean-Baptiste, and his wife, Teresa Jean-Baptiste. The company has two places of business from which it conducts its sales and secures its inventory. Sales are conducted in its downtown Castries location at 23 Vide Boutielle Road. In accordance with St. Lucian law, the majority of its inentory of firearms and ammunition is stored at th national armory maintained by the Royal St. Luca Police Force. For distribution purposes, limied inventory is secured at the 23 Vide Boutielle Rad location and on the first floor of the owner' home, located at 41 Corinth Estate, Gros Islet. ¶3. Post conducted a site visit at the Castries nd Gros Islet locations. Post did not condut a site visit at the national armory. The Castries place of business is cohabited by a professional security company. Armed guards are on duty at this building 24 hours a day. Commercial inventory is stored in safes within the national armory. The Gros Islet location is Jean-Baptiste's personal residence and utilized guard dogs and alarm system for security. The inventory at the residence is also securely locked in a safe. Post had no concerns of the security at either location. ¶4. G & T, Inc. appears to have an established and legitimate customer base to which it plans to sell the commodities listed in their application. The company sells approximately 100 firearms and 42,000 arms per year to the St. Lucian law enforcement community, correctional institutions, private security firms, and new and existing license-holding individuals. All end users are in St. Lucia, and all business is conducted in St. Lucia. No transactions are conducted outside of St. Lucia. ¶5. According to Jean-Baptiste, G & T, Inc. keeps proper, detailed records of its sales and customers and sends quarterly inventory and sales reports to the Commissioner of Police. Jean-Baptiste showed these records to the Post representative. In addition, the Commissioner of Police notifies G & T, Inc. of any new or changed USML restrictions. GILROY