2006/2007 OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST REPORT TO

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000071 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP (BOZZOLO) AND (BROWN) AND WHA/CAR (BUDDEN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCOR EFIN JM SUBJECT: 2006/2007 OBJECTIVES FOR THE MAJORS LIST REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA (GOJ) REF: A)06 STATE 204184 AND B) KINGSTON 00069 1.(SBU) Summary: Acting NAS director (NASDIR) delivered the majors list demarche to Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips on January 12, 2007. A courtesy copy of the embassy's January 10 diplomatic note to the MFA on this subject was handed to the Minister, along with NAS' table of Jamaica's drug seizure statistics for 2006. Focus of the discussion was the four specific benchmarks identified in para eight of ref (a). Phillips seemed to react positively to the benchmarks, but was a bit concerned about the one on cocaine seizures. INL will be sent the statistical table and text of the diplomatic note separately. End Summary. 2.(U) On January 12, Charge, NASDIR and P/E Counselor met with Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips. Also, present for the meeting were MNS Permanent Secretary Gil Scott and Special Advisor O'Neil Hamilton, who is on loan to MNS for the next three months from the Jamaican Embassy in Washington. Although the primary purpose of the call was to present the demarche, other subjects were discussed and reported in ref (b). That message reports on the Minister's comments concerning the police and corruption, issues which relate directly to the demarche as well. 3.(SBU) After a brief description of the majors list process and timeframe, NASDIR directed the presentation to the four specific objectives or benchmarks with regard to preventing and punishing public corruption, the need for cocaine seizures, passage of narcotics-related legislation, and reform of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Since there was considerable preliminary discussion of the issue of official corruption (see ref b),NASDIR simply underscored the importance of the issue by citing its negative impact on getting the Airport Interdiction Task Force fully operational. He pointed out to the Minister that approximately 70 percent of police recruited for the Task Force failed the polygraph. In order to overcome the problem, NASDIR said he had been informed that the Commissioner of Police will provide fresh graduates from the police academy. In the earlier discussion, Phillips indicated that both overt and covert operations needed to be mounted to attack the problem of official corruption. He also cited the importance of having security forces convert intelligence into investigations. Phillips reiterated his long-standing desire to create a national independent investigations authority, which would sidestep reliance on the JCF, but would also require legislation. 4.(SBU) Referring to the table on drug seizures in 2006, NASDIR congratulated the government for achieving over a 200 percent increase in marijuana seizures. He also pointed to the 29 percent decrease in cocaine seizures from the prior year. NASDIR recalled that last summer he had warned the GOJ about an upswing in cocaine transshipments through Jamaica. This did not mean that it was approaching the volume that existed three years ago, but nonetheless it was not something to be ignored. The Minister did not outright disagree with the benchmark of four major cocaine seizures, but did express surprise that we presented that benchmark rather than one concerning arrest and prosecution of major drug traffickers. He spoke of the arrest of the Lewises (father and son) last year and considered that action far more valuable than a big cocaine seizure. NASDIR reassured Phillips that the USG considers arrest of major traffickers to be extremely important, but stated that seizures of large shipments of cocaine also are important. Returning to the theme of corruption, NASDIR pointed out that, last year despite several operational attempts to make large cocaine seizures, all had failed. NASDIR said he had to conclude that failure may be the result of disloyal members within specialized units. Phillips indicated that was something worth looking into, and if true would be disturbing. 5.(U) NASDIR said that we would like to see the Proceeds of Crime Act passed early this year. The Minister advised that the act will be voted on in the House by the end of January and in the Senate in February. He said the opposition party no longer has a problem with the act. Phillips indicated that, when the act is passed, he hopes the UK will provide assistance in setting up an assets recovery section. NASDIR asked what had become of the Financial Investigations Division Act. The Minister responded that many of its provisions are now included in the Proceeds of Crime Act. When it has been passed, the government will determine whether there is continuing need for the Financial Investigations Division Act. 6.(U) With regard to the four-point JCF reform benchmarks, the first one concerning appointment of the fifth international police officer position to be in charge of the anti-corruption unit was largely addressed in ref (b). However, Phillips clarified that the position should be filled in April and advised that this person should report directly to the Commissioner of Police. The position already has been advertised in Jane's and other publications, according to the Minister. On the suggestion that the GOJ take action to reform existing regulations to permit prompt dismissal and prosecution of corrupt police regardless of rank, Phillips replied that he wants a review of the Police Service Regulations and the Book of Rules. The Minister took on board the point concerning a comprehensive vetting system for new and existing police and the point calling for rationalization of assignments and training to assure that untainted and competent officers are not transferred from specialized units shortly after receiving training. NASDIR took the opportunity to remind him that our bilateral agreement contained a provision against transfer within two years following NAS-funded training. The Minister concluded by stating that every couple of months the embassy and MNS should meet to discuss where things stand on achieving the benchmarks. 7.(U) Finally, prior to presentation of the demarche, Minister Phillips wondered out loud about whether it would be possible to get international lending organizations like the World Bank and IDB to permit a flow of resources toward public safety programs. He said the GOJ could use such resources to establish a JCF Command and Control Center, modern forensic laboratories (including DNA analysis) and upgrade the police training facilities. This type of funding would, he said, be used to accelerate the police reform effort. The Minister will suggest this idea to A/S Shannon. 8.(SBU) Comment: Minister Phillips' remark about lack of a benchmark on major traffickers or organizations seems valid. Embassy will propose adding language to the "Road Ahead" section of the INCSR. We also noticed that there was no mention in the draft INCSR about arrests in 2006 of key members of major trafficking organizations. Considering the 2006 track record (and despite several special operations), four major cocaine seizures may be very difficult to achieve. Finally, as reported in ref (b),we may want to consider whether to actively pursue requested helicopter support for Buccaneer this year. In addition to marijuana eradication, the MNS sees more effective eradication to be in the interest of national security by depriving arms smugglers with the assets with which to purchase illegal weapons ("guns-for-ganja"). End Comment. JOHNSON