JAMAICA: WAITING FOR A POLITICAL DECISION ON

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001770 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR VDEPIRO, KWILLIAMS, JTILGHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI PHUM PREL KCRM SNAR JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: WAITING FOR A POLITICAL DECISION ON DEPORTEE REINTEGRATION PROGRAM REF: BRIDGETOWN 1499 ¶1. (SBU) on December 7, prompted by reports of the strident commentary from the Jamaican Ministry of National Security Special Advisor on Policy Anne-Marie Barnes (REFTEL),and by a continued lack of forward movement by the Government of Jamaica towards opening bilateral talks with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the pilot Deportee Reintegration Program, CDA sent Prime Minister Golding and Foreign Minister Baugh letters urging Jamaica to respond clearly and favorably to the USG proposal. On December 10, NAS Director met with the Minister of National Security's Senior Advisor, Errol Strong, to seek his assistance in breaking the bureaucratic log jam to permit IOM to begin its work in Jamaica. Strong agreed that Jamaica needs this program and he clearly understands that there is a bigger picture that has to be considered. Strong promised to speak to the Minister of National Security and Prime Minister within the next few days to encourage them to remove this from the working level and take the political decision to accept the program. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) On December 7, responding to a request for additional information made by Prime Minister Golding to Ambassador Johnson after she raised the pilot program with Golding at the CCA meeting in Miami on December 4, CDA sent a letter to both Golding and Jamaica's Foreign Minister, Dr. Kenneth Baugh outlining the USG position, and asking for a clear statement outlining Jamaica's position. In addition, the letters laid out that if Jamaica can not accept the program at this time, the U.S. would seek other partners. Accompanying the letter was a WHA/CAR-provided non-paper detailing the program. ¶3. (SBU) On December 10, NAS Director held a follow-up meeting with Errol Strong, Senior Advisor on Policy and Operations to the Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith. (Note: Strong was brought in by Smith to act as his sounding board on both policy and operational matters. He is not part of the regular bureaucratic structure of the Ministry, nor is he a hold over from the previous regime, and his experience in Washington at the Jamaican Embassy where he worked on deportee matters should prove to be an asset.) During the meeting, the NAS Director briefly outlined the circular conversation we seem to be stuck in with the working level at the Ministry, and laid out in rough detail the parameters for the program. The NAS Director also expressed our growing concern at the counter-productive role being played by a member of the Ministry staff, Dr. Anne-Marie Barnes, whose recent comments on deportees in Barbados (REFTEL),and her insistence in quoting from her largely discredited non-public study on deportees, continues to show that she has neither moved beyond the tired rhetoric of blaming the U.S., nor is she willing to work with us on the Deportee Reintegration Program. Finally, the NAS Director raised the looming possibility that Jamaica will lose out on this program if the GOJ does not provide the USG with a clear statement of its intentions to move forward and engage with the IOM to negotiate the program's parameters. ¶4. (SBU) Despite having "deportees" as part of his oversight portfolio, Strong was unaware of the pilot program. After hearing it described, Strong agreed with the NAS Director that it was something that the Government of Jamaica needs and should not turn away from. Addressing Dr. Barnes, Strong commented that "sometimes personalities get in the way of decision making." He promised in the next few days to meet with both the Minister of National Security and Prime Minister to discuss the program and urge them to take the political decision to open up bilateral talks with the USG and IOM. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Strong can not take the decision for either Golding or Minister Smith, but he is the first senior staff member of the Ministry who has seen the big picture as more important than any back room wrangling that may still be going on within CARICOM. He was clearly troubled by Dr. Barnes' behavior in Bridgetown (REFTEL) and as he is no fan of hers, it is unlikely he will be swayed during any future discussion by her rhetoric to oppose the program. End Comment JOHNSON