CHIEF OF MISSION DECISION - NSDD-38 REQUEST TO ADD ONE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000430 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR M/PRI DS/IP/WHA FOR MARK WRIGHTE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AODE AMGT KMRS NS SUBJECT: CHIEF OF MISSION DECISION - NSDD-38 REQUEST TO ADD ONE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY, POSITION - OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, FS-07 REF: A) STATE 099620 B) DOS-SUR-38954-9172008 C) NSDD-38 ACTION REQUEST AND GUIDANCE FOR CHIEF OF MISSION ¶1. (U) THE CHIEF OF MISSION HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE DOS/BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY NSDD-38 PROPOSAL CONTAINED IN REFTEL A, AND APPROVES THE REQUEST. ¶2. (U) THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES ARE KEYED TO QUESTIONS POSED IN REF C, PARA ONE: A) WHILE NOT REFLECTED IN THE POST'S MOST RECENT MSP, THE CHIEF OF MISSION FINDS THE ADDITION OF AN OMS POSITION WILL NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR POST'S SECURITY, BUT WILL MAKE POSSIBLE DEPENDABLE, ON-GOING BACK-UP AS CURRENT STAFFING ONLY PROVIDES ONE CAREER OMS FOR THE ENTIRE EMBASSY. MSP GOAL NUMBER FIVE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SECURITY AND ENHANCE ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY WILL BE FACILITATED. B) NO. THERE IS ONLY ONE FOREIGN SERVICE OMS ASSIGNED TO PARAMARIBO, AND THE WORKLOAD ASSIGNED THIS POSITION PREVENTS FURTHER EXPANSION IN THE SCOPE OF DUTIES. C) NO. THE POSSESSION OF AN APPROPRIATE SECURITY CLEARANCE, COMBINED WITH THE SKILL SET OF A CAREER FOREIGHN SERVICE OMS, ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL FOR THIS POSITION. THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND HIRE CLEARED AMERICAN CITIZENS LOCALLY IS SEVERELY RESTRAINED BY THE SMALL SIZE OF THE POST AND THE DEARTH OF U.S. CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT, IN RECENT YEARS, THE RSO FREQUENTLY HAS BEEN WITHOUT OFFICE SUPPORT. D) CURRENT OFFICE SPACE IS ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED OMS. NO ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF WILL BE NEEDED, AND BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY (DS) FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO FUND THE NEW POSITION. E) YES. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE NOTED THAT DESPITE A 2006 ROAD REALIGNMENT PROJECT TO INCREASE SETBACK, THE EMBASSY OFFICE BUILDING CURRENTLY DOES NOT MEET THE 100-FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT IN ALL AREAS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN NEC, NOW SCHEDULED FOR FY 2014. SCHREIBER HUGHES