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

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