GOTT SEEKS US APPROVAL WITH LEGISLATION ON CHILD

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000499 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR INL/LP, WHA/CAR, CA/OCS/CI, CA/OCS/ACS/WHA PLEASE PASS TO KAREN DYER AND CAROLEE WALKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA CACS TD SUBJECT: GOTT SEEKS US APPROVAL WITH LEGISLATION ON CHILD ABDUCTION SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) With the October 15 proclamation of Trinidad and Tobago's new International Child Abduction Act, 2008, the GOTT believes that they are now fully compliant with The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and will seek international approval of their ascension to the convention. ¶2. (SBU) In addition to establishing separate and distinct legislation regarding child abduction, the Trinidadian act calls for the establishment of a central authority to handle these cases. Attorney General (AG) Brigid Annisette-George chose Legal Consultant to the AG Nafeesa Mohammed to head the central authority and will directly supervise this position. ¶3. (SBU) PolOff discussed the new legislation and Hague Convention accession with Mohammed on the margins of a November 5 stakeholder's conference hosted by the AG. Although logistics need to be coordinated between Immigration and Police Services, the Ministry of Social Development and local NGOs, Mohammed believes that once the standard questionnaire for newly acceding States is completed, the GOTT should be able to seek USG approval of T&T's accession. She informed PolOff that her intention is to have all the documents completed within three weeks and then apply for approval through formal diplomatic channels. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Nafeesa Mohammed is a former International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participant and remains a strong Embassy contact in the AG's office. Her timetable for Hague Convention accession might be ambitious based on the information required from the Ministry of Social Services and the general lack of communication among the enforcement agencies. Nevertheless, since the majority of Trinidadian international abduction cases have a U.S. nexus, Mohammed will push to complete the task. She cited a current case with a Trini mother taking her child to New York as her rationale. End Comment. ¶5. (U) Post will forward the formal request as soon as it is received. AUSTIN