JAMAICA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000773 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (BUDDEN),WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2017 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL JM CU SUBJECT: JAMAICA: SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT REF: A. STATE 65523 ¶B. 06 KINGSTON 2377 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) This message responds to questions asked in ref. A. ¶1. (C) Post is unaware of any Jamaican investments in Cuba. However, many Jamaicans, including businesspeople, oppose U.S. policy towards Cuba, which hampers post's efforts to gather accurate data. A contact at Jamaica Trade and Invest (JAMPRO) stated off-the-record that she felt that Jamaican businesspeople - especially those in the tourism sector - were very sensitive to the possible ill-effects of dealing in Cuba, and that she was unaware of any Jamaican entities with a commercial presence in Cuba. ¶2. (SBU) There is no direct bilateral trade agreement between GOJ and Cuba. There is a partial scope trade agreement between CARICOM, of which Jamaica is a member, and Cuba. The Jamaican government, through the Export-Import Bank, has an established line of credit with Banco Nacional de Cuba in order to facilitate exports. ¶3. (U) In July 2005, the Cuban government expanded the medical program "Mision Milagro" (Miracle Mission) to residents of the Caribbean, providing operations in Cuba free of charge for people with cataracts or other treatable eye conditions. Since the last submission (ref. B),post is unaware of any groups traveling to Cuba for treatment, and Cuban doctors have not visited Jamaica. Under a cooperation agreement on energy conservation, Cuba provided energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs to households in East Kingston and Port Royal; distribution began in February, 2006 and is ongoing. Cuba later extended the program to cover households island-wide. Media reports indicate that this project has seen over one million bulbs donated to date, and estimate that the joint project will be completed by August 2007. One hundered Cuban nationals are expected to arrive in Jamaica to assist with distribution. Jamaican sportspersons often compete at Caribbean events in Cuba. ¶4. (SBU) Post is unaware of any recent measures taken by the GOJ to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. Post has no evidence that the GOJ has substantially changed its policies or actions toward Cuba in the six months since the submission of our last assessment in December 2006. Jamaica continues to maintain cordial diplomatic relations with Cuba, its close geographical neighbor. ¶5. (U) Jamaica has a diplomatic presence in Havana. To post's knowledge, there have been no official visits of Cuban or Jamaican representatives since the submission of ref. B. ¶6. (C) Post continues to believe that suspension of the right to bring action in U.S. courts against entities and nationals trafficking in confiscated properties in Cuba is necessary to U.S. interests. Singling out Jamaican entities or nationals for prosecution would be counterproductive in achieving other USG objectives. In Post's view, proceeding with the implementation of Title III of the Libertad Act would seriously complicate, and perhaps even compromise, our efforts in areas of agreement. Actions against Jamaican nationals would likely provoke a strong response from GOJ. Johnson