POLOFF INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS HIGHLIGHT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000461

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2019
TAGS: PREL EFIN IR XL
SUBJECT: POLOFF INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS HIGHLIGHT
COOPERATION, SHORTCOMINGS

Classified By: CDA D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Recent meetings with key St. Vincent and the
Grenadines (SVG) government and non-government
representatives yielded leads on SVG's orientation towards
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Shipboarding
Agreement, reaction on G/TIP's Tier 2 Watchlist designation,
and offered a preview on near-term political developments.
Although St. Vincent,s perspectives on some issues continue
to diverge from U.S. priorities, working-level engagement
appears collaborative. Government and non-government actors
alike appreciated U.S. engagement in St. Vincent, and
welcomed further cooperation. End Summary.


2. (U) Poloff met July 20-21 with Foreign Minister (FM) Louis
Straker, Minister of Tourism Glen Beache, National Security
Permanent Secretary (PermSec) Godfred Pompey, and former
Prime Minister (PM) Sir James Mitchell. Outside government,
Poloff met with Ken Boyea, an influential business leader
related to PM Ralph Gonsalves; civil society activist and
entrepreneur Marlon Mills; head of the Marion House
non-governmental organization (NGO) for at-risk women,
Barbara Matthews; Nicole Sylvester, head of the SVG Human
Rights Association; and visited the Liberty Lodge shelter for
at-risk boys.

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PSI: A Way Forward
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3. (C) Poloff confirmed separately with FM Straker and
PermSec Pompey that the draft PSI Shipboarding Agreement had
been forwarded to Attorney General Judith Jones-Morgan for
review. FM Straker admitted to being negligent about
following-up with the AG, and vowed to rectify this.
Subsequently, Pompey said that the AG's review was complete
and PM Gonsalves had already given his preliminary approval.
The next step, according to Pompey, was to gather all key
stakeholders in Washington. He said that arrangements for a
Washington meeting were underway. Post had previously
approached the MFA about meetings concerning PSI in May this
year, but Straker and the MFA seemed only vaguely aware of
the details of the meetings.

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TIP: A Blind-siding Eye-opener
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4. (C) The normally reserved FM did not hesitate to show his
disappointment with the Embassy, and the USG writ large, for
not being consulted and prepared before G/TIP made public its
Tier 2 Watchlist classification. Still wanting to see the
facts surrounding G/TIP's decision, FM Straker welcomed the
upcoming visit by G/TIP's selected adviser -- confirming to
Poloff that all necessary measures would be taken to resolve
and bring the matter to a close. He noted that the subject
received widespread coverage in the press, following the
Prime Minister,s strong reaction in parliament, leaving many
in public and private circles scratching their heads.
(Comment: The FM's claim seemed realistic, given that nearly
everyone Poloff encountered during the two-day trip wanted to
know more about "St. Vincent's problem with trafficking."
End Comment).


5. (C) Although also surprised by the watchlist designation,
both Marion House's Barbara Matthews and Liberty Lodge
Director Michael Akers told Poloff separately that the matter
would likely force the government to take a look at passing
specific counter-trafficking legislation and assess its
enforcement efforts. Each said they looked forward to the
G/TIP adviser's recommendations, and were willing to provide
advice and assistance, as needed.

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Airport, Government on Shaky Ground
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6. (C) All non-government interlocutors confirmed unanimously
to Poloff that the largely Venezuelan-funded international
airport project would soon fail. Citing factors ranging from
unstable topsoil and likely equipment erosion caused by the
continuous waft of windward sea air, to the likelihood that a
post-Chavez Venezuela would pull the plug on funding. The
project was deemed nothing more than a "feel good" political
experiment that PM Gonsalves would regret. This view was not
shared, however, by the FM and PermSec Pompey, as each touted
the airport's potential benefit as a transportation hub for
regional airline LIAT and a destination for major
international carriers. Interestingly, Minister of Tourism

Beache did not share his colleagues' enthusiasm, pitching
instead the idea that diversification of the regional airline
market would pay bigger dividends.


7. (C) Former PM Mitchell and civil society activist Marlon
Mills, both close to but not allied with SVG's main
opposition party, separately called PM Gonsalves' political
orientation "dangerous," and expressed concern that St.
Vincent's future as an independent, democratic state was in
jeopardy. Each accused Gonsalves of spending beyond the
country's means, borrowing more than could ever be repaid,
and involving himself with criminal elements linked to the
recent Millennium Bank scandal. Similarly, Mitchell and
Mills lambasted opposition parties generally, claiming that
their leaders have done little to critique constructively the
PM's actions. Mitchell said opposition groups need to do
more to make their positions known, so voters can have a
better foundation on which to base their decisions come
election time. Mitchell did not believe early elections
would be called, speculating that the risk would be too high
for Gonsalves. He feared that the election would be bought
with Venezuelan funds, "again." Conversely, Mills was
confident that an election would occur before PM Gonsalves'
term ends in 2011. Both highlighted the importance of
keeping track of SVG's ongoing constitutional reform process,
agreeing that its outcome could determine how quickly
elections would take place -- especially if the final draft
affords additional powers to the PM.

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Comment: Sustaining Engagement
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8. (C) As seen with PSI, TIP, and other bilateral issues,
USG-SVG engagement remains cooperative. Civil society and
opposition groups are open to USG cooperation, and welcome
the possibility of USG-based international institutions to
take part in observing SVG's political developments; most
notably, its constitutional reform process. End Comment.

HARDT