T&T SUMMIT COORDINATOR DISCUSSES SOA PREPARATIONS WITH PDAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000286 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/USOAS, WHA/CAR, WHA/EX, WHA/EPSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN ECON PREL EAGR KSUM XM TD SUBJECT: T&T SUMMIT COORDINATOR DISCUSSES SOA PREPARATIONS WITH PDAS KELLY SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: T&T will soon share its draft Summit declaration and seeks a 10-14 day turnaround for U.S. comments. The draft will be unveiled in Washington on/about July 24, with negotiations proceeding in September (Barbados),October (Jamaica),November (possibly Bahamas) and December (possibly El Salvador). T&T will convey proposed lodging arrangements in a few weeks; it is considering making the entire Hilton available to the U.S. By the end of August, it expects to seek assistance on enforcing restricted air space, patrolling waters beyond 12 nautical miles, and beefing up bomb squad capacity during the Summit. Logistical challenges in putting on the Summit will be daunting and we encourage Washington agencies to make early visits to Port of Spain, coordinated with our own National Summit Coordinator, to discuss hurdles and areas of cooperation. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) WHA PDAS Craig Kelly met with T&T National Summit Coordinator Luis Alberto Rodriguez on June 26 to discuss preparations for the Summit of the Americas. Rodriguez was accompanied by Deputy Coordinator Beverly Khan, Security Coordinator Maj. Francis, and Logistics Coordinator Maj. Peter Ganesh. Also attending were WHA/EPSC Director Matt Rooney, DCM and EconChief (notetaker). ¶3. (SBU) Rodriguez expected T&T's draft Summit declaration to be ready within days, and he reaffirmed that the U.S. would receive an advance copy. Acknowledging that USG interagency process takes time, Rodriguez pressed strongly for a turnaround time of 14 calendar days, adding 10 days would be "even better" and that he hoped the U.S. would keep its requests to a minimum. Rodriguez also noted that Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) partner institutions had been slow to respond to T&T's requests for data and that his team had to find their own data in cases where JSWG material was "not the best." ¶4. (SBU) Rodriguez said he aims to unveil the draft declaration at a Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) meeting in Washington on July 24, depending on the availability of OAS Secretary General Insulza, adding that he needs to give Insulza a week to review it. OAS members then would have two months to review the draft and assemble negotiating teams before the next SIRG meeting, scheduled for September 18-19 in Barbados. Subsequent SIRG meetings would take place in October in Jamaica; November, possibly the Bahamas; and December, possibly in El Salvador. T&T would then host an unspecified number of SIRG meetings from January through the Summit (April 17-19, 2009). ¶5. (SBU) Discussing the concept for a "declaration of commitment," Rodriguez said the approach reflects T&T's desire to address implementation concerns and respond to citizens who wonder what past Summits have achieved. PDAS Kelly responded that the same concerns inform our approach to the hemisphere, which seeks to draw clearer connections between our good governance/open markets agenda and people's lives. ¶6. (SBU) As a partial aside, Rodriguez added that President Uribe of Colombia had signaled his desire to have a meeting on trade when he met with T&T Prime Minister Manning at the recent World Economic Forum gathering. While no such meeting had taken place, Rodriguez agreed there is a need to focus attention on the benefits of trade in a way that would broaden support for its liberalization. Kelly noted U.S. sensitivity on several issues, including biofuels and food prices and the need to keep climate change negotiations in UN and Major Economies channels. ¶7. (SBU) On logistics, in addition to leasing two cruise ships from a U.S. shipping line (with single occupancy capacity for 2800),T&T is making arrangements with neighboring islands to stage aircraft. It also is contracting with experienced foreign companies to manage accreditation and the media. Rodriguez said he would soon convey detailed GOTT thinking on accommodations, adding that he would seek early agreement on arrangements for the U.S. delegation. Acknowledging U.S interest in obtaining sole use of the Hilton, Rodriguez said this is under consideration. Logistics coordinator Major Peter Ganesh noted this would require careful coordination of movements to minimize disruption of traffic in Port of Spain, and he encouraged the U.S. to retain its allocation of rooms at the Hyatt, wherever POTUS ends up staying. ¶8. (SBU) Maj. Ganesh continued that the GOTT will provide each delegation with three executive vehicles, two outriders, two security vehicles, one staff bus, and one baggage van, leaving it up to the delegations how these would be used. Ganesh indicated that the National Secretariat would control rentals of additional vehicles and provide shuttle services and parking for the secure zone around the Hyatt. PORT OF SP 00000286 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) The National Summit Secretariat is presenting budgets and proposing tender methods to an inter-ministerial committee. According to Rodriguez, Junior Finance Minister Mariano, who heads the ten-Cabinet committee, has promised to push these through as quickly as possible. ¶10. (SBU) Security coordinator Major Francis reviewed gaps in coverage where international assistance will be needed. He explained that the local police will have the lead on Summit security, with support from the full range of law enforcement and Defense Force entities. The Coast Guard will provide coverage up to 12 nautical miles from T&T's coastline, but international support will be needed beyond that range. In the air, the Special Anticrime Unit of T&T (SAUTT) can provide surveillance but has no ability to enforce restricted air space, so help will be needed there as well. ¶11. (SBU) On land, T&T may cordon off the downtown area, declaring the Summit Friday a holiday. It expects to borrow uniformed forces from Caribbean neighbors to bolster security, but it may need help with handling improvised explosive devices (IEDs),as bomb squad capacity is limited. Rodriguez said by the end of August, Trinidad would be in a position to engage in detail on these anticipated gaps. Noting that National Summit Secretariat would coordinate with the Ministry of National Security, Rodriguez asked the U.S. to route its communications on Summit security through National Secretariat channels. ¶12. (U) In closing, Rodriguez welcomed the news that the U.S. is sending a Florida Regional Assistance Team (FRAT) to Port of Spain July 7-11 to help Post prepare for supporting a Presidential delegation. He noted that he would be happy to meet with the FRAT, schedule permitting. ¶13. (SBU) Comment: Logistical challenges will be daunting for this small island, though Rodriguez seems to have a vision on moving forward and is assembling a solid team around him. We would encourage and welcome Washington agencies being proactive in visiting Port of Spain early on in this process, while coordinating any activity with our own National Summit Coordinator. AUSTIN