CARIBBEAN SECURITY ASSESSMENT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 PORT OF SPAIN 000249

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018
TAGS: MOPS MASS PREL PTER TD XL
SUBJECT: CARIBBEAN SECURITY ASSESSMENT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

REF: SECSTATE 51747 PORT OF SPAIN 190 PORT OF SPAIN
63 PORT OF SPAIN 170 BARBADOS 329

Classified By: DCM LEN KUSNITZ, REASONS 1.4 (B,D).



1. (C) Summary: The GOTT is heavily focused on security
concerns, both for domestic and regional reasons. It sees
itself as under attack by criminal elements running guns and
drugs from South America and is dealing with an explosion of
murders -- many gang related. From its perspective, the GOTT
is moving to create a "shell" around its nation to deter
criminal activity while seeking to reform and further
professionalize police and other security forces. It also is
interested in countering the crime problem on the regional
level; it leads CARICOM's security group and was the driving
force behind its early April meeting. In the past, T&T has
even offered to patrol much of the eastern Caribbean area, if
the U.S. offered sufficient assistance ($2-3 billion was
mentioned at one point).


2. (C) Security cooperation between the U.S. and Trinidad is
generally good, though the government has sometimes expressed
overblown expectations about the resources the U.S. could
contribute to the anti-crime fight. Paradoxically, though,
it has not always made sufficient use of what it has been
given, falling down on maintenance, reports and showing a
penchant for going for the shiny new technological fix, as
opposed to the slower route of also-needed institutional
reform. The legal and justice system here could usefully
benefit from modernization and technical advice. Passage and
implementation of new laws on wiretapping and many of the
other areas mentioned in the April 5 CARICOM security
communiquQ would be valuable. USG provision of equipment,
including to help T&T assist in the regional anti-crime
effort, also would pay dividends. End summary.

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Latest Requests
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3. (C) The porous borders throughout this region provide
an attractive environment for transnational crime, shipping
of drugs and possible terrorist activity. Recognizing this,
and responding to public pressure over the spiraling crime
rate, the GOTT spearheaded the April 4-5 CARICOM Heads of
Government security meeting. Coming out of that session,
Minister of National Security Martin Joseph specifically
requested (ref b) the U.S. assist Barbados in
restoring/upgrading two C-26s used by the Regional Security
System (RSS). The Minister added that the GOTT would
refurbish/upgrade its two C-26s, but asked to exchange
another non-operating Cessna aircraft originally provided by
the U.S. for an additional C-26. With two C-26s in Barbados
and three in T&T, he stated, the RSS would then have a five
plane air wing for interdiction and patrolling. Meeting the
Ministers plane request, coupled with the GOTT explicit
agreement to maintain the asset and use it and its other
C-26s for regional operations as requested, would be a major
indication to the government of our serious intent to
cooperate.

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Transitions
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4. (S/NF) Joseph also is spearheading the attempted

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transition of the Trinidad and Tobago police and Defense
Force. He has advanced, for example, the establishment of a
special combined military/police officer unit (SAUTT -- the
Special Anti Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago) that is
designed as an elite force to combat major crimes and
kidnapping. It receives training from the U.S. and UK. When
offered Special Operations Forces training for SAUTT (as part
of OEF-CCA),Joseph eagerly accepted. We expect this
training to begin by summer's end or in the early fall.


5. (C) The GOTT also is seeking major changes in police
practices, including its promotion system and governing
ethos, guided by a multi-million dollar consulting project
headed by George Mason professor Stephen Mastrofski.
Corruption, sloppiness in investigations and a lack of
willingness among some officers to patrol hinder this effort.
The GOTT also has been attempting to upgrade police
equipment and stations, but this remains a slow and
continuous uphill battle. To assist, we have offered several
training courses to the GOTT, and equipment such as
bulletproof vests. Continuing to offer training, and
stepping this up as appropriate, is important, but the GOTT
will need to show greater political will in carrying forward
its reforms than has so far been evident.


6. (C) Critics charge the government, stymied by a lack of
human resources progress, is looking for a silver bullet to
combat crime by focusing on technological solutions. Closed
circuit cameras are one instance of this, but the most
notable -- and derided -- is the government's anti-crime
airship (i.e., blimp). While the GOTT, and the airship's
U.S. manufacturer, maintain the airship -- with lookdown
cameras -- has made a real difference in crime rates, the
blimp is scoffed at by many. In any assistance provided to
the GOTT, we will need to keep an eye on this propensity,
suggesting less "elegant" but more practical solutions.

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Procurements
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7. (C) The effort to remake Trinidad's law enforcement
forces is mirrored in attempts to strengthen the defense
force's anti-crime role, especially in countering the transit
of narcotics and guns through Trinidad and surrounding waters
that the government identifies as the powder for the ongoing
crime explosion. As part of a broader plan, the government
now has in place a 360 degree radar purchased from Israel and
has on order from the UK three 90-meter offshore patrol
vessels (with helipads). In addition, it has ordered six
fast patrol craft from an Australian firm. The GOTT also is
now in tendering for six interceptor ships and four
helicopters (armed, it hopes, with mounted machine guns or
rocket pods),and (as noted) intends to upgrade its C-26s.
Finally, it has just taken receipt of two (interim) patrol
vessels. The goal, as publicly stated by the GOTT, is to
have an "imposing security blanket" for Trinidad and Tobago
by 2011 when all the equipment has arrived.


8. (C) Although these new assets will enhance GOTT
capabilities, maintaining them will be a challenge. It is
not uncommon for equipment to break here and never be
repaired. Given this, it is imperative to expand IMET
training to include small boat maintenance as well as
improved vessel operating techniques to minimize preventable
damage. Our FY08 IMET program of $86,000 is woefully
inadequate to this task, especially when profiled against the

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expanded resources and patrolling plans the GOTT is
considering. To meet the increased demands, and maintain
other programs, $750,000 would be needed for advanced
training. Once its fleet is fully operational and adequately
maintained, the T&T will be able to provide more consistent
patrolling of its territorial waters, including protection of
critical energy infrastructure, as well as be able to better
participate in regional operations.

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Information Sharing
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9. (C) Cricket World Cup 2007 brought regional information
sharing to a new level, which should be upgraded and expanded
on a permanent basis. This data sharing includes the Advance
Passenger Information System (APIS),the Regional
Intelligence Fusion Center and the Regional Communications
Center. In addition, the Advanced Cargo Information System
(ACIS) should be put in place. The GOTT is in the process of
passing legislation that will make the APIS permanent. In
addition, the GOTT established a Passenger Analytical Unit
(PAU) that analyzes this information and then acts upon it.
Establishing PAUs or similar types of organizations
throughout the region, which can utilize the APIS as well as
other data that can be shared, would greatly enhance
enforcement's ability to provide better border control. The
USG should support these efforts by providing training,
equipment and specifically, the PISCES software, which will
make these efforts sustainable.

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Forensics, DNA and Witnesses
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10. (C) With Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) funds, Post
is providing the GOTT with cyber crime training and a cyber
forensics laboratory and training center. The project, led
by DS, should help this laboratory to become an effective
tool, enhancing capabilities for tracking a host of
computer-dependent information. This new capability will be
an important adjunct to our counter narcotics, money
laundering, and counterterrorism efforts. It also will
compliment the northern Caribbean's laboratory to be housed
in Antigua. In conjunction with the cyber forensics
laboratory, the GOTT has already established a DNA
laboratory. However, the DNA laboratory is in need of
accreditation and assistance in becoming fully operational.
Targeted U.S. assistance to this lab, including provision of
equipment essential for accreditation, would enhance T&T's
ability to prosecute complex crimes. As part of our
discussions covering assistance to the lab, we also could
broach the possibility of it becoming regional in nature.


11. (C) Due to witness intimidation, the GOTT has
requested assistance with its witness protection program.
Though the program has a perfect success rate for witnesses
that remain in it, many persons drop out due to lengthy
trials, lack of mobility and poor employment possibilities.
Unfortunately, several of these drop-outs have then been
murdered. Given the small size of T&T and other CARICOM
members, Post supports a regional approach to the witness
protection program and the April 5 CARICOM communiquQ
indicates that there is at least some interest in exploring
this possibility.

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Legal Changes
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12. (C) A hindrance to greater security is the often slow
and inefficient judiciary and the lack of certain laws that
would aid in the anti-crime/terrorism effort. Post has
continually encouraged the GOTT on legislation that we
believe would be of utility and were gratified to see many of
the ideas we had raised with the government contained in the
April 5 CARICOM statement. One such piece of legislation,
mentioned in the communiquQ, would legalize wiretapping under
judicial control (ref c).


13. (C) We agree with Barbados (ref e) that a dedicated
regional legal/legislative/Administration of Justice Adviser
could be an important asset to governments in this area and
support the creation of such a position/program. In looking
at the legal system, though, it is worth noting that T&T and
several other Caribbean nations' legal systems are based on
the British model. This recognition may open up areas for
discussion with our British and Canadian colleagues.
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Air Marshals
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14. (C) For some time now, we have been seeking T&T's
agreement to be included in the Federal Air Marshal (FAM)
program. Our request seems to be caught in the continuous
loop of the GOTT bureaucracy. This is an area that we can
raise with the GOTT and, more broadly, CARICOM.

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LNG Infrastructure
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15. (C) Trinidad is our leading supplier of liquefied
natural gas (LNG). DOE, DHS and the Coast Guard's Port
Security Division collaborated on a detailed assessment of
critical LNG infrastructure protection presented in mid-May
to the GOTT. Assessment recommendations focused primarily on
maritime domain awareness and land-based interdiction
capabilities, with additional attention to intelligence
sharing and cyber security. GOTT implementation of USG
agencies' maritime recommendations in particular will entail
tradeoffs, with implications for T&T's aspirations to patrol
outside its own territorial waters. USG agencies are
currently organizing for follow-up discussions with the GOTT
on an implementation timeline of approximately 18 months.
This level of engagement on energy infrastructure protection
may be difficult to justify with other Caribbean countries.
Nevertheless, T&T demonstrated its willingness to work with
the U.S. on this issue at the regional level when it
co-hosted with DOE and SOUTHCOM the Caribbean Energy
Infrastructure Security Workshop on May 14-15.

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CARICOM IMPACS
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16. (C) At the April 5 CARICOM meeting, IMPACS
(Implementation Agency for Crime and Security) was charged
with monitoring and assisting with the following agenda
items: maritime and airspace cooperation and the sharing of
assets; intelligence and information sharing; procurement of
equipment; rapid deployment of regional forces; and general
crime prevention. At this meeting, IMPACS also was
designated as the entity to be granted access to INTERPOL's

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telecommunication system (ref D).

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Financial Support
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17. (C) Embassy Port of Spain currently has the following
levels of foreign assistance:

-- In FY2008, Post received $397K in INCLE funding and is
expected to receive $500K in FY2009. These funds are the
main source for enhancing equipment and providing training to
T&T's law enforcement agencies.

-- In FY2008, Post received $86K in IMET funding and is
expected to receive $100K in FY2009. This training provides
subject matter exchanges and other courses (in country and in
the U.S.) to the T&T Defense Force (TTDF) to transform and
modernize the force, bolstering its role in narcotics
interdiction in territorial waters.

-- In FY2008, Post did not receive any FMF funding; however,
we have requested $750K for FY2009. These funds will be used
for defense modernization, enhancing control of T&T's
national territory and support for maritime interdiction.

-- In FY2008, Post received $889K in NADR funding but does
not expect to receive any funds in FY2009. These funds were
used for a variety of Diplomatic Security/Antiterrorism
Assistance (ATA) training programs.

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Comment: Multilateral with a bilateral twist
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18. (C) Given the centrality of security issues in the
Caribbean, a coordinated USG effort to deal with this matter
is both timely and welcomed. It also holds the potential for
underscoring both to governments and peoples of the region
that we are focused on their key concern, one that affects
everyday life, taking a psychic toll, an economic toll and a
human toll. It also serves U.S. national interests,
countering a crime and terrorism threat from a vulnerable
region.


19. (C) In approaching how to assist the region, we suggest
that the U.S. consider engaging CARICOM on a multilateral
basis first, but also make explicit that we will not be held
to this as circumstances warrant. Also, we should make clear
that assistance is a two-way street. If T&T, for instance,
gets a new C-26 from us, it needs to use this aircraft in
joint exercises and for regional purposes (maintaining its
airworthy status and preparing required reports),as well as
for its own internal requirements. Finally, in looking at
the region and Trinidad, we may want to consider how we can
meld this prospective initiative into the ongoing cooperative
Summit of the Americas work.
AUSTIN