JAMAICA RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT, TITLE III

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000482 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CCA - DAVID MCFARLAND DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - JTILGHMAN WHA/EPSC - LKUBISKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: TRAD ETTC PREL JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT, TITLE III REF: A. SECSTATE 52541 ¶B. KINGSTON 414 ¶C. 07 KINGSTON 1730 Classified By: DCM James T. Heg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Post has provided responses to questions listed in reftel A. Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding, accompanied by Mrs. Golding, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kenneth 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 from May 5 - 7. This was the first major visit by Golding to CUBA since taking office and indicates a closer relationship between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-led government and CUBA under the new leadership of Raul Castro. During the three-day visit to Havana, PM 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; C) sought to assure the Cubans that, under his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, longstanding bilateral cooperation would continue (reftel B). ¶2. (SBU) Post is unaware of any specific Jamaican investments in CUBA or any Jamaican firm with a commercial presence in Cuba. However, Jamaicans generally oppose U.S. policy towards Cuba, which hampers post's efforts to gather accurate investment data. Jamaica has a diplomatic presence in Havana. ¶3. (SBU) In regard to the recently signed bilateral agreements Golding reportedly said "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. In agriculture, the cooperation envisioned appears to be in greenhouse technology. The PM reportedly discussed the need to protect the two countries' territorial waters from drug smugglers. In addition to the framework agreements for bilateral cooperation signed in May, there is also a CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed July 5, 2000 (Jamaica is a CARICOM member). CUBA remains a significant export market for Jamaica, with exports of USD 9 million for 2006 (2007 figures will be available in July 2008). Imports for the same period were USD 2.8 million. Jamaican exports include pig feed, garments, and scrap metal. Imports from CUBA include copper, cement, clay construction materials, and cigars. The GOJ, through the Export-Import Bank, has an established line of credit with Banco Nacional de CUBA in order to facilitate exports. ¶4. (C) Although Cuban political involvement in Jamaica was strong at one time, it has now dwindled. Historically in Jamaica, JLP Governments generally have been less sympathetic to the Cuban regime that those of the opposition People's National Party (PNP). The end of Fidel Castro,s control of Cuba appears to be leading to closer ties with the GOJ. The Cuban government has continued to provide significant social support through educational scholarships and the occasional deployment of medical personnel. The medical program "Mision Milagro" (Miracle Mission) provides free medical eye care in Cuba to Caribbean residents. The service is used by people with cataracts or other treatable eye conditions. CUBA also provided over four million energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs to households since February, 2006. (Note: the public relations value for CUBA of the light bulb exchange was mute,d as it is the subject of an ongoing GOJ corruption investigation under which the former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (PSM) accrued a bill of USD 3.95 million for the distribution of the bulbs. It appears GOJ officials awarded lucrative contracts to distribute the bulbs to two firms recently incorporated by close friends or relatives. The matter has been turned over the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Fraud Investigation Unit. End note). ¶5. (SBU) After returning from CUBA in May, Golding released a press statement calling for the end of the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, saying "we believe the time has come for constructive engagement with Cuba." Golding said he assured Cuba that Jamaica would try to &influence the thinking of the United States government towards a different approach to Cuba.8 Golding said he would encourage the U.S. to adopt a similar approach to CUBA as it has with communist China and Vietnam. He said that during the visit to CUBA he saw "clear signs" of CUBA moving in a "path of reform." Golding added, &I believe that all of us owe CUBA the respect, they have traveled a long road and in a sense they are arriving at the same destination that we have defined for ourselves ) an improved quality of life for their people, a consolidation of their sovereignty and their independence. I believe that we must all do whatever is possible to make sure that CUBA can be integrated into the mainstream of the world community.8 ¶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 particularly in light of the recent visit by PM Golding to Havana. JOHNSON