Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINGSTON584
2007-04-23 16:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

JAMAICA: US-CARICOM MINISTERIAL/SUMMIT JUNE 19-21;

Tags:  KSUM PREL ENRG MARR PHUM OAS JM XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4007
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0584/01 1131623
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231623Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4642
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000584 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR - KAREN L. WILLIAMS, PATRICK HENNEBERRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSUM PREL ENRG MARR PHUM OAS JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: US-CARICOM MINISTERIAL/SUMMIT JUNE 19-21;
PARTICIPATION, COMMENTS ON PROPOSED AGENDA

REF: A. STATE 43123

B. KINGSTON 534 (NOTAL)

Summary
---------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000584

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR - KAREN L. WILLIAMS, PATRICK HENNEBERRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSUM PREL ENRG MARR PHUM OAS JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: US-CARICOM MINISTERIAL/SUMMIT JUNE 19-21;
PARTICIPATION, COMMENTS ON PROPOSED AGENDA

REF: A. STATE 43123

B. KINGSTON 534 (NOTAL)

Summary
--------------

1.(SBU) Jamaica's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs plan "in principle" to participate in the US-CARICOM
Ministerial/Summit June 19-21 in Washington; however,
impending national elections may preclude their doing so. On
the prospective Ministerial/Summit agenda, from the
perspective of the CARICOM states, economic, trade, and
energy issues should take precedence over the "Promotion of
Democratic Institutions."
End Summary.

2.(SBU) "In principle," Prime Minister (PM) Portia Simpson
Miller (PSM) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign
Trade Anthony Hylton plan to participate in the US-CARICOM
Ministerial/Summit June 19-21 in Washington, according to
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT)
Permanent Secretary Amb. Douglas Saunders; however, in a
transparent allusion to the possibility that PSM may call
national elections and thus be precluded from attending,
Saunders noted that "other events may happen at the same
time." He shared this observation in the course of a private
meeting with Charge (accompanied by PolOff),Under Secretary
for Trade Amb. Lorne McDonnough, Director for Trade Marcia
Thomas, and other MFAFT officials on April 19.

3.(SBU) With respect to the proposed Ministerial/Summit
agenda, Saunders and his MFAFT colleagues noted that
"Promotion of Democratic Institutions" was a "desirable
subject," but one which should be "approached from a more
positive perspective." With the exception of Haiti, which
had been admitted to CARICOM to bolster donor funding, all
CARICOM states had demonstrated a strong record on democracy;
therefore, the subject should be approached "in a more
positive vein." If this item were presented as "development
of democracy in CARICOM", it would cause resentment. Haiti's
membership was "the only problem area for democracy within
CARICOM." Therefore, "without suggesting we're perfect,"

democracy in CARICOM should be approached as a "celebration."
Charge noted that Washington recognized the strong
democratic traditions of the CARICOM states, and, without
specifically mentioning Cuba, said that the focus of the
Ministerial/Summit probably would be on the promotion of
democratic ideals throughout the region; Saunders replied
that the "point of departure" should be "CARICOM and the
U.S., not wider."

4.(SBU) McDonnough then observed that the CARICOM states
"fully recognized that democracy was not only about holding
elections every four or five years," and that "we also have
problems with our governance." However, "we would have
looked first to economic and trade issues for the agenda."
Saunders added that the overall aim should be economic and
social development; other issues were "elements required to
contribute to this end," e.g. governance, health, education,
etc. When CARICOM Trade Ministers had briefly discussed
Washington's proposed Ministerial/Summit agenda during their
recent meeting in Jamaica, they had questioned whether
"democracy is the most important item." CARICOM "needs
clarity" that "the overarching objective is the well-being of
the people." Saunders then described the Caribbean Single
Market and Economy (CSME) as "a work in progress;" CSME was
"a long way behind the EU." Charge observed that being
second in some ways could be an advantage, in that mistakes
could be avoided. Saunders observed that the gradual
movement toward CSME was a "general projection of the reality
of the Caribbean." He then reemphasized the close
traditional ties of migration and trade between the Caribbean
and the U.S., noting that several U.S. congresspersons were
of Caribbean origin, as well as many successful
businesspersons, professionals, and athletes.

5.(SBU) Turning to security, Saunders questioned the
reference to "nascent" security relationships. At least from
Jamaica's perspective, security ties with the U.S. were not
"nascent," but rather "an important element toward our
well-being." Charge agreed that U.S. cooperation with
Jamaica on security issues had been strong for many years.

6.(SBU) Saunders then observed that, for Jamaica and perhaps
the U.S. as well, the security of energy was critical. It
was all to the good to encourage alternative and renewable
energy sources-- solar, wind, biofuels, etc. However, he
believed that, for the time being, alternative fuels would
have "minimal impact," and equal "only a percentage of oil

KINGSTON 00000584 002 OF 002


usage." Production of ethanol and hydrogen were "energy
intensive." Charge noted that the problems were technical,
i.e., how to efficiently tap wind, solar, and other
alternative sources. Saunders then observed that, with the
exceptions of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, the security
of energy supplies was of serious concern to all the CARICOM
states. And of course, for the CARICOM states "security"
also embraced everything from environmental disaster
preparedness to food security.
Johnson