BUREACRATIC BLOCKS ON OPEN SKIES, DIRECT FLIGHTS TO

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR for Jackie Rosholt, EEB/TRA for Viki Limaye-Davis,
DOT for Brian Hedberg, DHS/TSA for Loretta McNeir

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR KTIA XL NS
SUBJECT: BUREACRATIC BLOCKS ON OPEN SKIES, DIRECT FLIGHTS TO
SURINAME

REF: (A) SECSTATE 146737 (B) PARAMARIBO 558


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: After delaying for months in response to
Embassy attempts to set up a meeting to further discuss air traffic
with the United States, government of Suriname (GOS) Minister of
Transportation, Communication, and Tourism (TCT) Richel Apinsa
tabled Open Skies, saying the GOS prefers to wait for a CARICOM
approach. Apinsa also said that Suriname Airways (SLM) is
interested in obtaining approval to fly to Miami, and would like to
begin the formal process in 2008. In light of difficulty passing a
National Aviation Security Proposal, Post doubts SLM or the GOS will
be ready in 2008. END SUMMARY

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Shadowboxing the Ministry and the Airline
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2. (SBU) During a courtesy call to new transportation Minister
Richel Apinsa in June, Post and the Minister agreed to look into the
status of SLM's stated desire to fly directly to the United States.
Previous to that meeting, SLM complained to the media that the U.S.
was hampering its "U.S. dream" with excessive security requirements.
Five months were to pass before Apinsa agreed to a follow-up
meeting to discuss SLM's claims. On November 26, Apinsa
acknowledged that there is no "block" or "hold" on SLM applying to
fly to the United States and that an official security inspection
would only occur should SLM apply. She said she appreciated the
clarity of Post's explanation, and that SLM wishes to apply in

2008.

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Little Movement on Years-Old Aviation Security Proposal
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) The major sticking point for an SLM application is
questionable airport security, of which the GOS is well aware. The
civil aviation authority in Suriname says it cannot move forward
with improvements until the National Civil Aviation Security
Proposal (NCASP) is passed, but this law has languished in
bureaucratic limbo since 2005. Asked for an update, Deputy
Permanent Secretary on Transport Marcia Clumper said the law awaits
approval by the Council of Ministers, but that first the Council
will need to be re-briefed on the issue, as some Ministers have
changed since the previous submission in January of 2007, when the
NCASP was last presented -- and the Council was unconvinced.
Furthermore, Clumper said this process will have to involve all who
have worked on the law, including Customs, the Ministries of
Defense, Health, and TCT, and the carriers. Clumper and Apinsa
promised to see what they can do to move the process forward.

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Open Skies Still Closed
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4. (SBU) In October post delivered demarche ref A, regarding
opening bilateral discussion of Open Skies. Post spoke directly
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) as required by MFA
protocol, delivering a copy of the demarche for TCT (ref B). MFA
Head of the Americas division Terence Craig had previously expressed
optimism about Open Skies, saying that as other countries are
negotiating bilaterally, Suriname should as well; he also expressed
mild disapproval of previous TCT Minister Alice Amafo, who ended
bilateral Open Skies discussion in 2005 by referring the matter to
CARICOM. However, when Post met with Apinsa on November 26, she had
not received the Open Skies information from MFA. She and Clumper
accepted copies of and agreed to review them, but rejected
suggestions to consider bilateral negotiations, saying they want to
see what CARICOM will do with open skies. Clumper said she does not
have the feeling that CARICOM has struck Open Skies from its agenda,
but rather that "certain actors" want to further inform themselves.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: While Post is pleased to have TCT's pledge to
move forward on NCASP and thus on a possible direct flight route to
the United States, there are many steps involved, and if SLM must
wait for NCASP approval, its goal of applying for a route in 2008 is
unrealistic. Bureaucratic processes in Suriname move slowly,
especially as the number of Ministries involved increases.
Furthermore, the talk of a route to the United States may be mostly
a marketing ploy, with no direct route envisioned: the route would
likely go via Aruba or another resort island, thereby expanding
SLM's sales without making it any easier to get to Suriname from
Miami (the best flights currently go via Port of Spain). As for
Open Skies, TCT appears to have checked the "too hard" box,
delegating Open Skies back to CARICOM responsibility. END COMMENT

GENTON