Suriname: Rhythm Road New Season Priorities

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000408 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ECA/PE/C/CU ROBERT KEITH AND COLOMBIA BARROSSE, WHA/PDA CHAD WEST WHA/CAR JROSHOLT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO NS SUBJECT: Suriname: Rhythm Road New Season Priorities Ref: SECSTATE 90853 ¶1. (U) Building and strengthening Mutual US/Suriname appreciation and respect is Post's number one Mission Strategic Goal. Rhythm Road (RR) programming was a key part of fulfilling this goal in 2007 and 2008, and Post looks forward to welcoming Rhythm Road to Suriname in 2009. The following is keyed to questions from paragraph 6 of reftel. -------------- Preferred Music Style -------------- ¶2. (U) Post would prefer to host urban music. Post has been tremendously successful with its music programs (primarily jazz) in 2007 and 2008, which entertained thousands of Surinamers. This year Post would like to leverage this popular music programming reputation to facilitate outreach to youth by bringing in urban music. The hip-hop format will be especially attractive for target audiences and the large "Afro-Sranan" or "Creole" population in Suriname. We are optimistic an urban music program could help Post in its continuing outreach to Suriname's large Muslim population; Post notes successful use of the band Muslim Deen in other countries, and would welcome the visit of a Muslim hip-hop band such as Muslim Deen. Post also wishes to emphasize that regardless of genre, Surinamers prefer their music "hot and spicy" rather than "cool and mellow." -------------- Preferred Time Frame -------------- ¶3. (U) For the past two years, Post has offered RR jazz as a part of its Black History Month programming. Once again, February is the ideal time to receive RR artists. In the past, Post has expanded Black History "Month" to include January and/or March to take advantage of the RR window of opportunity, and would like to do so again, preferably using the February/March timeframe. Post also prefers a three day programming window spanning a weekend (i.e., Wednesday night arrival, programs on Thursday and Friday, performances on Friday and Saturday nights, and departure on Monday early morning). Travel in and out of Suriname on the most reliable airline route is currently limited to four days a week. (budget note: see paragraph 9). -------------- Priority Objectives -------------- ¶4. (U) Post's number one Mission Strategic Plan goal is mutual U.S./Suriname appreciation and respect contributing to a more effective partnership. Post repeatedly highlights U.S. contributions to world culture, and our music programming is central to this effort. RR programming demonstrates our interest in Surinamese cultural life and showcases the best of contemporary American culture. It builds on significant good will and expectations created by past RR programming and by the independent visit of former RR participant "Bujo" Kevin Jones in July 2008. We are optimistic an urban music program could help Post in its continuing outreach to Suriname's large Muslim population, and would welcome the visit of a Muslim hip-hop band. -------------- Audiences -------------- ¶5. (U) Post would again seek to leverage both high-impact audiences (a street concert for youth to continue Post's successful grassroots outreach programs first instituted in 2006) and high-level targeted audiences (jazz jams at the Ambassador's Residence have been very popular among Embassy contacts). Post would also organize workshops and master classes for schoolchildren and music students. As in the past, Post will extend RR programming to Nickerie, Suriname's second largest city, which is located a four-hour drive from the capital (budget note: see paragraph 9). -------------- Possible Venue Institutions -------------- ¶6. (U) Given past success, Post has several potential partners for venues. Our first options: A. The Cultural Center of Suriname, for schoolchildren, and co-located with the American Corner. B. Downtown street concert, for youth. C. Chief of Mission Residence. D. Nickerie Cultural Center. E. Cultural institution "Ons Erf," for general audiences and music students. -------------- Possible Venue Cities -------------- ¶7. (U) Post would program in the capital, Paramaribo, and in the second largest city, Nickerie. Budget note: see paragraph 9. -------------- Security -------------- ¶8. (U) Post has not had and does not anticipate any security difficulties. -------------- Budget Issues -------------- ¶9. (U) RR programming has been spectacularly successful in Suriname in the past few years, and formed the centerpiece for U.S. outreach efforts in 2007 and 2008. However, this has come at significant cost due to the small size of Post's discretionary budget. The RR program is by far Post's largest public diplomacy expenditure, making it difficult for Post to program appropriately for the rest of the fiscal year. Post notes that Reftel states "in certain circumstances, ECA/PE/C/CU will authorize JALC to cover per diem and/or local travel costs." Post looks forward to exploring with Washington whether a cost-sharing option would be available. SCHREIBER HUGHES