Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GEORGETOWN282
2007-03-16 17:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:
VULNERABILITY OF FRC REGIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
how-toVZCZCXRO7953 RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHGE #0282 0751705 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161705Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4920 RUEHMI/USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE 2365 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000282
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL
STATE FOR M/R
STATE FOR L/DL
WHA/EX FOR JAMES ROBERTSON
HR/CDA FOR JOANNE ALBA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER ODIP AODE AMGT KLIG
SUBJECT: VULNERABILITY OF FRC REGIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000282
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL
STATE FOR M/R
STATE FOR L/DL
WHA/EX FOR JAMES ROBERTSON
HR/CDA FOR JOANNE ALBA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER ODIP AODE AMGT KLIG
SUBJECT: VULNERABILITY OF FRC REGIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
1.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph five.
2.(SBU) Regionalization, while an important cost-saving measure, may
create a vulnerability for the Department and disadvantage those
officers providing regional support from a home base within the
United States.
3.(SBU) Recently six Embassy Georgetown direct hire American
employees, comprising the Management Officer, DCM, Peace Corps
Country Director and Administrative Officer, and two members of the
grievance committee for locally employed staff, received summons to
appear in Guyanese court in relation to a wrongful termination
lawsuit brought by a former Peace Corps local employee.
Fortunately, all officers (except for one whose assignment had
ended) named in the suit were immune. While the Regional Human
Resources Officer, based at the Florida Regional Center, was not
named in the suit, she very well could have been. As a U.S.-based
regional officer she is not an accredited member of the mission
staff and does not have immunity. Had she been named in the suit,
the Department would have been drawn into defending the suit.
4.(SBU) Post has found FRC's human resources and financial
management regional support to be invaluable, but this incident
reveals one of the pitfalls of utilizing regional officers based
within the United States--those officers do not have diplomatic
immunity for duties performed at post. These officers visit post on
average one week out of every two months. Even when they are not at
post, they continue to function as "our" HR and B&F officers via
telephone and e-mail. The functions they perform, especially in the
case of human resources, can be contentious and lead to lawsuits.
Regional personnel based outside of the United States, such as DEA
and FBI agents based in Trinidad, are accredited in Guyana and do
not face this vulnerability.
5.(SBU) The Department seeks immunities for personnel overseas
primarily to protect U.S. national interests by insulating our
personnel from pressure by host governments. Post asks that the
Director General request a review to determine whether any
possibility exists for accreditation of U.S.-based regional
personnel, or alternative solutions that would provide similar
protection of U.S. interests.
ROBINSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL
STATE FOR M/R
STATE FOR L/DL
WHA/EX FOR JAMES ROBERTSON
HR/CDA FOR JOANNE ALBA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER ODIP AODE AMGT KLIG
SUBJECT: VULNERABILITY OF FRC REGIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
1.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph five.
2.(SBU) Regionalization, while an important cost-saving measure, may
create a vulnerability for the Department and disadvantage those
officers providing regional support from a home base within the
United States.
3.(SBU) Recently six Embassy Georgetown direct hire American
employees, comprising the Management Officer, DCM, Peace Corps
Country Director and Administrative Officer, and two members of the
grievance committee for locally employed staff, received summons to
appear in Guyanese court in relation to a wrongful termination
lawsuit brought by a former Peace Corps local employee.
Fortunately, all officers (except for one whose assignment had
ended) named in the suit were immune. While the Regional Human
Resources Officer, based at the Florida Regional Center, was not
named in the suit, she very well could have been. As a U.S.-based
regional officer she is not an accredited member of the mission
staff and does not have immunity. Had she been named in the suit,
the Department would have been drawn into defending the suit.
4.(SBU) Post has found FRC's human resources and financial
management regional support to be invaluable, but this incident
reveals one of the pitfalls of utilizing regional officers based
within the United States--those officers do not have diplomatic
immunity for duties performed at post. These officers visit post on
average one week out of every two months. Even when they are not at
post, they continue to function as "our" HR and B&F officers via
telephone and e-mail. The functions they perform, especially in the
case of human resources, can be contentious and lead to lawsuits.
Regional personnel based outside of the United States, such as DEA
and FBI agents based in Trinidad, are accredited in Guyana and do
not face this vulnerability.
5.(SBU) The Department seeks immunities for personnel overseas
primarily to protect U.S. national interests by insulating our
personnel from pressure by host governments. Post asks that the
Director General request a review to determine whether any
possibility exists for accreditation of U.S.-based regional
personnel, or alternative solutions that would provide similar
protection of U.S. interests.
ROBINSON