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