Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINGSTON1770
2007-12-10 20:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

JAMAICA: WAITING FOR A POLITICAL DECISION ON

Tags:  SOCI PHUM PREL KCRM SNAR JM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8163
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1770 3442017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 102017Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5718
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
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

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