JAMAICA/CUBA: PM GOLDING'S VISIT TO HAVANA; BILATERAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000414 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JOE TILGHMAN) WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OVIP EIND SOCI SNAR KPAO JM CU XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA/CUBA: PM GOLDING'S VISIT TO HAVANA; BILATERAL COOPERATION TO CONTINUE, RENEWED CALL FOR END OF U.S. EMBARGO, CONSTRUCTIVE U.S. ENGAGEMENT REF: (A) KINGSTON 219 (121200Z MAR 08) (B) KINGSTON 364 (291558Z APR 08) (C) KINGSTON 387 (051946Z MAY 08) (NOTAL) Summary -------------- 1.(SBU) During a three-day visit to Havana, Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding: (A) signed framework agreements for bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture, health, tourism, water resources, and housing; (B) reiterated his call for lifting of the U.S. embargo, and for constructive U.S. engagement with Cuba (reftel A); (C) sought to assure the Cubans that, under his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, longstanding bilateral cooperation would continue. End Summary. 2.(SBU) Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding, accompanied by Mrs. Golding, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ken Baugh, Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett, Minister of Health Ruddy Spencer, Minister of Water and Housing Horace Chang, and Minister of Agriculture Chris Tufton, visited Havana May 5 - 7. This was the largest government delegation to leave the country since Golding's Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took office in September, ¶2007. The PM is believed to be the first Caribbean leader to have an official face-to-face meeting with Raul Castro since he assumed the Presidency. They reportedly met at the Palace of the Revolution, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Jose Marti monument. The delegation also reportedly visited two eye surgery hospitals in which many Jamaicans receive treatment, the Information Sciences University, and a green house agricultural complex. Agriculture, health, tourism, water resources, and housing agreements -------------- -------------- 3.(SBU) The Jamaican delegation signed framework agreements for bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture, health, tourism, water resources, and housing. Speaking on the afternoon of May 5, Golding reportedly said that "one of the areas to be explored is the possibility of multiple destination marketing where visitors can purchase a package through which they could spend some time in Jamaica and some time in Cuba." Details of the tourism agreement reportedly will be worked out by Bartlett with his Cuban counterpart. In agriculture, cooperation reportedly is envisioned in greenhouse technology. The PM also reportedly said the two countries have agreed to further talks to protect their territorial waters from drug smugglers. Golding reiterates call for lifting of U.S. embargo, constructive U.S. engagement with Cuba -------------- -- 4.(SBU) According to the Jamaica Observer newspaper, Golding "gave a commitment to encourage the American Government to pursue a path of constructive engagement with the Cuban Government, similar to what has been adapted (sic) with communist China and Vietnam. He said the U.S. was prepared to engage constructively with China and Vietnam, and the time has come for constructive engagement with Cuba." Speaking at an airport press conference upon his return to Kingston, the PM said: "We gave them (Cuban Government) an assurance that not only would we continue to support that view, but that we would use whatever influence we have, however limited, to seek to encourage and influence the thinking of the U.S. Government towards a different approach to Cuba." According to the Gleaner newspaper, while in Havana Golding said that "he believed the lifting of the U.S. embargo on Cuba was imminent." JLP Government to continue longstanding bilateral cooperation -------------- -------------- 5.(SBU) Historically in Jamaica, JLP Governments generally have been less sympathetic to the Cuban regime that those of the opposition People's National Party (PNP). This was particularly true when Edward Seaga succeeded Michael Manley as PM during the early 1980s. Indeed ironically, Golding himself was a prominent Minister in the newly-elected Seaga Government when it declared Cuban Ambassador Ulisses Estrada persona non grata. As noted in the local press, the PM's recent visit to Havana is to some extent an effort to "bury the Seaga-era Cuban policy." Golding also sought to allay any concerns by the Cubans that the Government of Jamaica KINGSTON 00000414 002 OF 002 might somehow hold them responsible for a recent scandal surrounding the distribution of Cuban light bulbs, in which one senior Jamaican official has been indicted on corruption charges (reftel B). By septel, we will provide further analysis and comment on Golding's trip and its implications for U.S.-Jamaican relations. HEG