Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTOFSPAIN987
2007-09-27 12:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
how-toVZCZCXRO9690 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHSP #0987/01 2701216 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 271216Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8663 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS KCRM TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000987
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS KCRM TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) In this edition of the Roundup:
A. CARICOM TEAM TO MONITOR ELECTION
B. TRADE UNIONS SUCCESSFUL IN SOLIDARITY
C. MP WINS FIGHT TO BE SCREENED FOR OFFICE
D. CHIEF JUSTICE TRIBUNAL SNARES MORE
--------------
CARICOM TEAM TO MONITOR ELECTION
--------------
2. (U) During an address to the House of Representatives on
September 21, Prime Minister Manning said he will invite a Caricom
delegation to observe Trinidad and Tobago's upcoming election.
Although he said he has no doubt the elections will be fair, this
approach would add international credibility to the final result and
be a concrete sign of regional integration and cooperation.
3. (U) Manning stated his move was not related to the Congress of
the People's (COP) demand for observers. In response to Manning's
announcement, COP leader Winston Dookeran said he still hoped the
Commonwealth Secertariat would be asked to form an observer mission.
Explaining this preference, he characterized the Commonwealth group
as more experienced at election monitoring. Dookeran also has
called for the OAS to send observers, but indicated he could live
with just Commonwealth and Caricom monitoring.
(SBU) Comment: Electoral lore has the PNM employing some "muscle"
in the 2002 election. Some in the opposition have suggested the
ruling PNM would use workers from the publicly-funded CEPEP
employment program in a similar manner. By offering up Caricom
observers, Manning has defused this issue, at least over the
short-term. For his part, Dookeran has sent letters to some local
Commonwealth Embassies seeking their backing for an observer
mission. A couple of those Embassies told us they did not intend to
get involved in this dispute. END COMMENT.
--------------
TRADE UNION SUCCESS
--------------
4. (U) On September 21, hundreds of disgruntled public servants
from various trade unions marched through Port of Spain in a show of
solidarity. Participants demanded that the government and public
sector employers finish labor negotiations before the upcoming
elections. Most public employees are barred from striking, but
teachers/others in contract talks have been engaged in work actions,
including "sick-outs."
5. (U) During the rally, leaders from the teachers union announced
that after a year of negotiations, a settlement with the GOTT had
been reached. By December, teachers will begin receiving salary
adjustments designed to bring many of them to 100% parity with
equivalent private sector workers.
(SBU) COMMENT: The PNM is striving to wrap up all public sector
negotiations before the elections. END COMMENT.
--------------
MP WINS FIGHT TO BE SCREENED FOR OFFICE
--------------
6. (U) According to several media reports, on September 27, PNM MP
Ken Valley will be screened as a candidate for the upcoming general
elections. The central executive committee made this decision,
ending a fierce internal debate with PM Manning who had sought to
replace Valley along with about half of the PNM's current sitting
MPs. Valley, a senior PNM figure, has been supported by many of his
constituents and others in the PNM structure. Screening, however,
does not necessarily equate to being selected as an MP candidate and
his fate may not be known until Friday.
7. (SBU) Comment: After Valley's fate is determined, along with
that of five other MP hopefuls, the PNM will have completed its
candidate selection process, making it "good to go" for convoking
the elections. In addition, on September 28 the PM will prorogue
this session of Parliament (though there is a slim possibility it
could be brought back into session for a brief period prior to
October 16 when it legally must dissolve). Speculation is rampant
Manning will announce the date of elections on September 28; he must
do so by October 16. END COMMENT.
--------------
CHIEF JUSTICE CASE A MEDIA CIRCUS
--------------
PORT OF SP 00000987 002 OF 002
8. (U) The first week of testimony in the Chief Justice (CJ)
Satnarine Sharma case has led to a media circus, with stories of
alleged corruption and high level judicial intrigue filling
newspapers. Sharma is accused of trying to influence a case against
former PM and current UNC opposition leader Basdeo Panday (his case
involved the non-declaration of a London bank account). Sharma's
defense team is seeking to discredit his main accuser, suspended
Chief Magistrate (CM) Sherman McNicolls, by saying the CM took a
significant bribe when handling the Panday case. Thrown into the
mix this week is Attorney General John Jeremie, who Sharma's
attorneys are painting as a McNicolls co-conspirator.
AUSTIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS KCRM TD
SUBJECT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICAL ROUND-UP, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (U) In this edition of the Roundup:
A. CARICOM TEAM TO MONITOR ELECTION
B. TRADE UNIONS SUCCESSFUL IN SOLIDARITY
C. MP WINS FIGHT TO BE SCREENED FOR OFFICE
D. CHIEF JUSTICE TRIBUNAL SNARES MORE
--------------
CARICOM TEAM TO MONITOR ELECTION
--------------
2. (U) During an address to the House of Representatives on
September 21, Prime Minister Manning said he will invite a Caricom
delegation to observe Trinidad and Tobago's upcoming election.
Although he said he has no doubt the elections will be fair, this
approach would add international credibility to the final result and
be a concrete sign of regional integration and cooperation.
3. (U) Manning stated his move was not related to the Congress of
the People's (COP) demand for observers. In response to Manning's
announcement, COP leader Winston Dookeran said he still hoped the
Commonwealth Secertariat would be asked to form an observer mission.
Explaining this preference, he characterized the Commonwealth group
as more experienced at election monitoring. Dookeran also has
called for the OAS to send observers, but indicated he could live
with just Commonwealth and Caricom monitoring.
(SBU) Comment: Electoral lore has the PNM employing some "muscle"
in the 2002 election. Some in the opposition have suggested the
ruling PNM would use workers from the publicly-funded CEPEP
employment program in a similar manner. By offering up Caricom
observers, Manning has defused this issue, at least over the
short-term. For his part, Dookeran has sent letters to some local
Commonwealth Embassies seeking their backing for an observer
mission. A couple of those Embassies told us they did not intend to
get involved in this dispute. END COMMENT.
--------------
TRADE UNION SUCCESS
--------------
4. (U) On September 21, hundreds of disgruntled public servants
from various trade unions marched through Port of Spain in a show of
solidarity. Participants demanded that the government and public
sector employers finish labor negotiations before the upcoming
elections. Most public employees are barred from striking, but
teachers/others in contract talks have been engaged in work actions,
including "sick-outs."
5. (U) During the rally, leaders from the teachers union announced
that after a year of negotiations, a settlement with the GOTT had
been reached. By December, teachers will begin receiving salary
adjustments designed to bring many of them to 100% parity with
equivalent private sector workers.
(SBU) COMMENT: The PNM is striving to wrap up all public sector
negotiations before the elections. END COMMENT.
--------------
MP WINS FIGHT TO BE SCREENED FOR OFFICE
--------------
6. (U) According to several media reports, on September 27, PNM MP
Ken Valley will be screened as a candidate for the upcoming general
elections. The central executive committee made this decision,
ending a fierce internal debate with PM Manning who had sought to
replace Valley along with about half of the PNM's current sitting
MPs. Valley, a senior PNM figure, has been supported by many of his
constituents and others in the PNM structure. Screening, however,
does not necessarily equate to being selected as an MP candidate and
his fate may not be known until Friday.
7. (SBU) Comment: After Valley's fate is determined, along with
that of five other MP hopefuls, the PNM will have completed its
candidate selection process, making it "good to go" for convoking
the elections. In addition, on September 28 the PM will prorogue
this session of Parliament (though there is a slim possibility it
could be brought back into session for a brief period prior to
October 16 when it legally must dissolve). Speculation is rampant
Manning will announce the date of elections on September 28; he must
do so by October 16. END COMMENT.
--------------
CHIEF JUSTICE CASE A MEDIA CIRCUS
--------------
PORT OF SP 00000987 002 OF 002
8. (U) The first week of testimony in the Chief Justice (CJ)
Satnarine Sharma case has led to a media circus, with stories of
alleged corruption and high level judicial intrigue filling
newspapers. Sharma is accused of trying to influence a case against
former PM and current UNC opposition leader Basdeo Panday (his case
involved the non-declaration of a London bank account). Sharma's
defense team is seeking to discredit his main accuser, suspended
Chief Magistrate (CM) Sherman McNicolls, by saying the CM took a
significant bribe when handling the Panday case. Thrown into the
mix this week is Attorney General John Jeremie, who Sharma's
attorneys are painting as a McNicolls co-conspirator.
AUSTIN