Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GEORGETOWN209
2007-02-21 19:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:  

ANOTHER CARICOM CRICKET SECURITY REQUEST - LETTER

Tags:  ASEC MCAP OPDC PARM PREL MASS XL GY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHGE #0209/01 0521928
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P 211928Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4824
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY 0060
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000209 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC MCAP OPDC PARM PREL MASS XL GY
SUBJECT: ANOTHER CARICOM CRICKET SECURITY REQUEST - LETTER
TO DOD A/S RODMAN

REF: GEORGETOWN 111

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000209

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC MCAP OPDC PARM PREL MASS XL GY
SUBJECT: ANOTHER CARICOM CRICKET SECURITY REQUEST - LETTER
TO DOD A/S RODMAN

REF: GEORGETOWN 111


1. (SBU) Post received a diplomatic note today from the
CARICOM Secretariat requesting post transmit the attached
letter from CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington to
Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter W. Rodman. The letter
requests DoD give urgent consideration to deployment to the
region during the Cricket World Cup of any available maritime
assets that could aid CARICOM's surveillance efforts and
provide trooplift transport. Carrington also repeats the
request he made in his January 23 letter to Rodman that DoD
assist CARICOM to mount an effective response to Chemical,
Biological or Nuclear (CBRN) threats and support CARICOM in
increasing its EOD/IEDD response capability.


2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:

20 February 2007

Hon. Peter W. Rodman
Assistant Secretary of Defense
International Security Affairs
Office of the Secretary of Defense
2400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-2400
United States of America

Dear Assistant Secretary Rodman

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) would like to indicate its
deep appreciation to the Government of the United States and
the Department of Defense in particular, for your continued
interest and support of our current efforts, aimed at
ensuring the safety and security of Cricket World Cup 2007.

Your significant participation in the International Support
and Advisory Group (ISAG),which has partnered with CARICOM
during this important preparatory phase, has been beneficial
to our overall planning efforts. A meeting between the
leadership of SOUTHCOM and the Commander of the CARICOM
Operational Planning and Coordinating Staff (COPACS) in
December 2006 as well as a recent interaction between
security planners from the Region and their counterparts only
last week, have set the stage for meaningful cooperation, as
we seek to implement our security architecture for the games.

Our ongoing threat assessment has identified key gaps in our
Region's collective ability to respond to threats to the
security of our ports, as well as our capacity to adequately
field appropriate counter-terrorism teams and early
responders during the period of the games. With the
significant increase in maritime traffic which is anticipated
during the hosting of CWC 2007, our security planners have
been forced to pay particular attention to the possibility of
a terrorist attack, which could be directed at large cruise
ships, yachts or small pleasure craft, which will be plying
the waters of the Region in significant numbers during the
tournament.

The reality is that even where Coast Guard, Marine Police and
counter-terrorism assets do in fact exist within the
Caribbean region, they do not, at the moment, have the
capability to deal with a major event, such as the hijacking
at sea of a cruise vessel or an even more catastrophic or
lethal occurrence such as a Chemical, Biological,
Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN) attack.

We are therefore formally requesting - in keeping with
ongoing discussions between CARICOM and SOUTHCOM - your
urgent consideration of any available maritime assets that
could be deployed to the Region throughout the duration of
the games which could aid CARICOM in our surveillance efforts
and provide trooplift support during this period. As
previously discussed, CARICOM would also welcome any
assistance with mounting an effective response to a CBRN
threat as well as any support in increasing our EOD/IEDD
response capability.

CARICOM again remains grateful for your kind facilitation and
continues to be appreciative of the very meaningful ongoing
support being rendered by the Government and people of the
United States of America.

Yours sincerely



Secretary-General

SIPDIS

GEORGETOWN 00000209 002 OF 002



END TEXT
Robinson