REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000718 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CCA - DMCFARLAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU XL SUBJECT: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT: ST. LUCIA REF: STATE 126578 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Responses keyed to reftel questions: - Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? No. St. Lucia has not taken steps to advance democracy and human rights in Cuba. St. Lucia regularly participates in annual CARICOM-Cuba Day events, traditionally held on December 8. - Has the host country made other public statements or undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in the national assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba; or actions in support of civil society in Cuba through host country's diplomatic missions or other fora? The Government of St. Lucia has not undertaken any such activities. - Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and host country in the past six months? Yes. Prime Minister Stephenson King led a high-level delegation to Santiago de Cuba to participate in the annual CARICOM-Cuba summit December 7-8. - Did the host country offer or deliver humanitarian or other assistance to the Cuban people in the wake of the major damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav (August 30) and Ike (September 8)? The St. Lucia-Cuba Friendship Association coordinated two events to collect and send humanitarian supplies to Cuba following the hurricanes. - What is the nature of investments (and names, if known) that host country businesses have in Cuba? What host country businesses participated in the Havana Trade Fair (November 3)? There are no St. Lucian businesses known to have investments in Cuba. Post can find no evidence of St. Lucian businesses participating in FIHAV 2008. - Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host country and Cuba? Yes. CARICOM has a trade agreement with Cuba that St. Lucia has ratified. - Are there any exchange programs between host country and Cuba, including but not limited to: scholarships for host country nationals to study in Cuba; Cuban-paid medical travel for host country nationals; and Cuban doctors working in host country? Yes. St. Lucia is the recipient of Cuban scholarships. HARDT