Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRIDGETOWN611
2009-10-05 14:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN EXPANDS OUTREACH TO ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES

Tags:  KPAO KISL PHUM PREL XL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1909
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #0611 2781440
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051440Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7822
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000611 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KISL PHUM PREL XL
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN EXPANDS OUTREACH TO ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES
AT RAMADAN

-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000611

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KISL PHUM PREL XL
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN EXPANDS OUTREACH TO ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES
AT RAMADAN

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Following a successful inaugural Iftar celebration for
Ramadan 2007, Embassy Bridgetown significantly expanded outreach to
Eastern Caribbean Islamic communities in 2009 with Iftar events in
three countries -- Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
All three events were well attended, with participants expressing
appreciation for the Embassy's engagement. The events helped the
Embassy expand contacts in the commercial and NGO sectors in all
three countries and, in Nevis, to introduce us to a large community
of mostly expatriate Muslim students at a local university. These
contacts will be increasingly relevant as Iran and Libya take a
greater interest in the region. End summary.

--------------
BARBADOS
--------------


2. (U) Approximately 35 people attended the Barbados Iftar at the
Accra Hotel on September 8, including leading figures from all of
Barbados' four Islamic centers. Embassy's POLECON chief hosted and
read the President's Ramadan message, while another Emboff gave
brief remarks detailing her personal experiences as an American
Muslim. Local Islamic community leader Suleiman Bulbulia also
delivered remarks that were overwhelmingly positive and appreciative
of our strengthening relationship. The local community also used
this event as a cornerstone to do their own outreach to local media
to educate Barbadians about Ramadan. All remarks from the Iftar
were posted on the Embassy website.

--------------
ST. LUCIA
--------------


3. (U) The Iftar for St. Lucia was held on September 16 at the Chic
Restaurant in the Royal St. Lucian Resort. It was attended by some
20 people, mostly from the Islamic Association of St. Lucia. That
group is headed by Mr. Rasheed Popo as CEO, Mr. Azez as the
assistant CEO, and Sergeant Willie (aka Mr. Tariq) as the Secretary.
Despite some antagonism within different branches of the Islamic
community in St. Lucia, the event went well, with opening remarks
given by Emboff as host and by Mr. Tariq speaking on behalf of the
association. Prayers for men and women were held simultaneously in
the conference room, shortly after sundown. The association was
very pleased with U.S. sponsorship of the event and looked forward
to greater engagement in the future and expressed their hope to be
able to meet with the new U.S. Ambassador.

--------------
NEVIS
--------------


4. (U) The Embassy hosted an Itar on September 16 at the Mt. Nevis
Hotel for the Muslim community. Over 60 attended, including both
local Nevisian Muslims and students from the Muslim Student Union at
the Medical University of the Americas in Nevis. The Iftar was
strongly supported by the venue host, Dr. Adly Meguid, who is also a
Fulbright alumnus, and included remarks by Emboff host and local
community leaders. The halal meal served after the call to prayers
just after the sunset was a resounding success -- prompting one
participant to remark that these sorts of events are a great example
of what everyone already knows -- that the U.S. is an open and
giving society.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) In addition to breeding enormous goodwill with a number of
small, moderate Sunni communities throughout the Eastern Caribbean,
these events served to expand our contact bases in the academic,
business, and NGO communities. With both Iran and Libya increasing
contacts in the Eastern Caribbean, developing these relationships
will help us counter potential negative characterizations of the
U.S. in the region and maintain open lines of communication with
those who have their fingers on the pulse of the Islamic communities
here.

HARDT