JAMAICA: NEWLY INAUGURATED PRIME MINISTER BRUCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 001419 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO USAID - FOR DIRECTOR HENRIETTA FORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID PTER SOCI ASEC MARR OFDP UNDP XL, JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: NEWLY INAUGURATED PRIME MINISTER BRUCE GOLDING CONSIDERS HURRICANE RECOVERY AN URGENT PRIORITY, REQUESTS ADDITIONAL U.S. ASSISTANCE REF: A. KINGSTON 1369 (071956Z SEP 07) ¶B. KINGSTON 1292 (241313Z AUG 07) Classified By: Amb. Brenda L. Johnson, Reasons 1.5(b) and (d) Summary and Comment -------------- 1.(C) Newly inaugurated Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding considers recovery from the ravages of Hurricane Dean an urgent national priority, and requests greater U.S. assistance. According to UNDP: -- 19,000 homes were seriously damaged with a cost of USD 57 million; -- damages to schools and education buildings totaled USD 9.9 million; -- losses in the agricultural sector exceed USD 54 million. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPDEM) is still calculating total damages from the hurricane. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has revised its economic growth forecast downwards from an already anemic 2.1 percent to a mere 1.1 percent. Post endorses PM Golding's request, and notes that Washington was able to provide Jamaica about USD 18 million in relief following Hurricane Ivan. A generous U.S. response to Dean would be an excellent means of solidifying good bilateral relations with the new Jamaican Government. 2.(C) Golding intends to name Senator Anthony S. Johnson (protect closely) as the next Jamaican Ambassador to the U.S. (Note: Until recently Leader of Opposition Business, Johnson is a key figure in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP),trusted confidant of the PM, and excellent Embassy contact; Post will provide bio background septel. End Note.) 3.(C) Comment: After eighteen years in opposition, how easily Golding's JLP will adjust to the challenges and responsibilities of governance will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. If the new PM's deportment and demeanor during his first days in office are any indication, the transition will be well-organized and smooth. End Summary and Comment. 4.(SBU) Following his inauguration on September 11 (Reftel A),Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding requested a meeting with Ambassador the morning of September 13 at Jamaica House, the traditional office of the PM to which he had aspired for so many years; DCM and PolOff accompanied. Permanent Secretary Pat McCalla, Amb. Paul Robotham (until recently Jamaica's Ambassador to Japan, now serving in the PM's office),and other senior advisors also were present. The PM began by describing recovery from the ravages of Hurricane Dean (Reftel B) as "an urgent, pressing priority." He had completed an aerial inspection of Jamaica's south coast the previous day, and was seriously concerned about the widespread damage to houses, particularly in Clarendon parish. Many families had been separated and were living with relatives or friends. Given its difficult fiscal situation, the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) was hard pressed to provide adequate relief to families having suffered severe losses. Golding then asked if there had been any indication of further U.S. reconstruction assistance. Ambassador replied that the Embassy had requested USD 2 million from USAID, and also noted that former U.S. Ambassador Sue Cobb had established a hurricane relief fund for Jamaica, "1,000 Roofs of Love," to which former Secretary Powell and other prominent figures were contributing. 5.(SBU) Golding then said that, while he certainly did not want to sound ungrateful, USG assistance for recovery from Hurricane Dean was only "a drop in the bucket" relative to Jamaica's needs. He said the GoJ had been in touch with the European Union, which was diverting 6 million euros for hurricane relief. The GoJ was keen to enable people to get back on their feet and restore a degree of normalcy to their lives. In response to Golding's inquiry, Ambassador confirmed that the USD 2 million requested from USAID, if approved, would be fresh funds, i.e., not a diversion of funding already destined for Jamaica. (Note: Subsequent to Ambassador's meeting with Golding, USAID/Jamaica received guidance from USAID/Washington that the Mission should identify an appropriate level out of its projected FY-08 Budget for reprogramming to address current hurricane recovery needs; USAID/Jamaica will respond to this request. End Note.) 6.(C) Ambassador then said the Embassy looked forward to working with the new Government, and noted that, on several past occasions, the GoJ's responses to USG overtures or offers of assistance had not been as timely as they might. She then emphasized that the U.S., U.K., and Canada had enjoyed excellent cooperation with outgoing Minister of National Security Peter Phillips; we hoped that Phillips and his successor, Derrick Smith, would collaborate closely to ensure a smooth transition and continued close cooperation in ongoing anti-crime, anti-corruption, and counternarcotics efforts. The PM then asked whether there were any pending security-related issues between the GoJ and USG; Ambassador replied that we hoped Jamaica would move forward to conclude a new Status of Forces Agreement with the U.S. Golding concluded by noting that the GoJ would continue its cooperation with the U.S. in counter-terrorism efforts. Only the day before, the Commissioner of Police had brought a terrorist-related issue to his attention involving Jamaicans who had been in contact with "questionable elements" in the U.S.; USG and GoJ authorities were cooperating closely. Comment -------------- 7.(C) PM Golding appeared relaxed, confident, and quite at home in his new role and new office. Perhaps indicative of the heavy agenda in front of him, Golding wasted little time on small talk and was very focused. After eighteen years in opposition, how easily the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will adjust to the challenges and responsibilities of governance will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. If the new PM's deportment and demeanor during his first days in office are any indication, the transition will be well-organized and smooth. End Comment. JOHNSON