Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRIDGETOWN773
2009-12-24 15:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:
St. Lucia Minister of Commerce Laments Government
how-toVZCZCXRO5232 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHWN #0773/01 3581504 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241504Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0155 INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 000773
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINT ECON PGOV KWMN XL
SUBJECT: St. Lucia Minister of Commerce Laments Government
Inefficiencies, Lack of Responsiveness
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 000773
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINT ECON PGOV KWMN XL
SUBJECT: St. Lucia Minister of Commerce Laments Government
Inefficiencies, Lack of Responsiveness
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) St. Lucia Commerce Minister Tessa Mangal outlined
challenges facing the government in St. Lucia from poor training
and lack of professional standards among civil servants in a
December 4 meeting with the ChargC). Mangal expressed frustration
over the lack of a customer service mentality, which she noted is a
big obstacle to a country basing its development on tourism and
foreign investment. Mangal, the only female member of the Cabinet,
is a plain-speaking and dynamic minister with prior experience in
law and tourism. She is a close confidant of PM King's. End
summary.
--------------
Lack of Standards in Government
--------------
2. (SBU) St. Lucia Commerce Minister Tessa Mangal told the ChargC)
that she is frustrated with the slow and unprofessional way in
which public servants deal with requests from the public. Mangal
said she hopes to improve the systemization of government services
to more quickly and efficiently deal with requests, but
acknowledges that significant obstacles remain. Comparing St.
Lucia to Barbados, Mangal said her country had far to go to match
the quality seen in Barbados. The perception that customer service
equates with subservience has prevented greater acceptance of a
proper service mentality from taking root in St. Lucia, she
maintained. Mangal, fresh from the meeting of the Commonwealth
Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad was hoping to organize an
OECS Business Forum in St. Lucia during 2010. She welcomed
participation from the U.S. Embassy in providing a speaker, and the
ChargC) agreed to look for ways to assist the program.
--------------
Expropriation and Re-export Duties
--------------
3. (SBU) Poloffs raised the issue of the expropriation case in
Anse Galet and the lack of responsiveness from Prime Minister King
in responding to a personal letter from the ChargC) and numerous
following interventions. Mangal promised to look into the matter,
and believed that the long-standing court case that had prevented
development should have given greater leniency toward the Crown's
compulsory expropriation. American investors are not the only ones
being targeted by expropriation rulings, she noted, claiming that
numerous St. Lucians have also expressed anger at losing their
land.
4. (SBU) The ChargC) reiterated our strong support for the American
Chamber of Commerce in St. Lucia and said we hoped it will play an
important role in promoting dialogue on trade and investment in St.
Lucia. The AmCham in St. Lucia lists re-export duties as their top
advocacy concern. This 5 percent duty prevents the return of
poorly selling merchandise as well as the holding of product shows
that display a wide assortment of goods. Mangal acknowledged the
letter that the President of the AmCham had sent to PM King and had
organized the legal staff to look into this customs issue and make
recommendations on how to address the problems identified.
--------------
Comment
--------------
BRIDGETOWN 00000773 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Mangal has a difficult Ministerial Portfolio in a tough
economy. While she is making progress on her issues, her business
background has led her to focus on improving customer relations,
which she sees as a missing component that is integral for a
tourist-dependent economy. End Comment
--------------
Bio Note: Charlotte Tessa Mangal
--------------
6. (SBU) Minister Mangal has a background in law and tourism,
having worked her way up with local tourism providers. Mangal's
first stint in government was notable for her dismissal along with
two other senators in 1997 by PM Kenny Anthony for refusing to
guarantee a $1.5 million USD bank loan to soon to be bankrupt Helen
Air. She returned in 2007 as Minister of Human Services, Family
Affairs and Gender Relations before moving to the Office of the
Prime Minister, where she was tasked with handling the Independence
Celebration. Mangal was promoted to Minister of Commerce in
February 2009, and is currently the only female serving in the
Cabinet, where she takes the lead in promoting issues of gender
equality. She was the only Minister to attend a recent candlelit
vigil for recognition of Global AIDS day. Mangal, who is close to
the PM, appears to be one of the more competent and capable
ministers with the rare willingness to try new approaches to bring
needed dynamism into the conduct of government business.
HARDT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINT ECON PGOV KWMN XL
SUBJECT: St. Lucia Minister of Commerce Laments Government
Inefficiencies, Lack of Responsiveness
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) St. Lucia Commerce Minister Tessa Mangal outlined
challenges facing the government in St. Lucia from poor training
and lack of professional standards among civil servants in a
December 4 meeting with the ChargC). Mangal expressed frustration
over the lack of a customer service mentality, which she noted is a
big obstacle to a country basing its development on tourism and
foreign investment. Mangal, the only female member of the Cabinet,
is a plain-speaking and dynamic minister with prior experience in
law and tourism. She is a close confidant of PM King's. End
summary.
--------------
Lack of Standards in Government
--------------
2. (SBU) St. Lucia Commerce Minister Tessa Mangal told the ChargC)
that she is frustrated with the slow and unprofessional way in
which public servants deal with requests from the public. Mangal
said she hopes to improve the systemization of government services
to more quickly and efficiently deal with requests, but
acknowledges that significant obstacles remain. Comparing St.
Lucia to Barbados, Mangal said her country had far to go to match
the quality seen in Barbados. The perception that customer service
equates with subservience has prevented greater acceptance of a
proper service mentality from taking root in St. Lucia, she
maintained. Mangal, fresh from the meeting of the Commonwealth
Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad was hoping to organize an
OECS Business Forum in St. Lucia during 2010. She welcomed
participation from the U.S. Embassy in providing a speaker, and the
ChargC) agreed to look for ways to assist the program.
--------------
Expropriation and Re-export Duties
--------------
3. (SBU) Poloffs raised the issue of the expropriation case in
Anse Galet and the lack of responsiveness from Prime Minister King
in responding to a personal letter from the ChargC) and numerous
following interventions. Mangal promised to look into the matter,
and believed that the long-standing court case that had prevented
development should have given greater leniency toward the Crown's
compulsory expropriation. American investors are not the only ones
being targeted by expropriation rulings, she noted, claiming that
numerous St. Lucians have also expressed anger at losing their
land.
4. (SBU) The ChargC) reiterated our strong support for the American
Chamber of Commerce in St. Lucia and said we hoped it will play an
important role in promoting dialogue on trade and investment in St.
Lucia. The AmCham in St. Lucia lists re-export duties as their top
advocacy concern. This 5 percent duty prevents the return of
poorly selling merchandise as well as the holding of product shows
that display a wide assortment of goods. Mangal acknowledged the
letter that the President of the AmCham had sent to PM King and had
organized the legal staff to look into this customs issue and make
recommendations on how to address the problems identified.
--------------
Comment
--------------
BRIDGETOWN 00000773 002 OF 002
5. (SBU) Mangal has a difficult Ministerial Portfolio in a tough
economy. While she is making progress on her issues, her business
background has led her to focus on improving customer relations,
which she sees as a missing component that is integral for a
tourist-dependent economy. End Comment
--------------
Bio Note: Charlotte Tessa Mangal
--------------
6. (SBU) Minister Mangal has a background in law and tourism,
having worked her way up with local tourism providers. Mangal's
first stint in government was notable for her dismissal along with
two other senators in 1997 by PM Kenny Anthony for refusing to
guarantee a $1.5 million USD bank loan to soon to be bankrupt Helen
Air. She returned in 2007 as Minister of Human Services, Family
Affairs and Gender Relations before moving to the Office of the
Prime Minister, where she was tasked with handling the Independence
Celebration. Mangal was promoted to Minister of Commerce in
February 2009, and is currently the only female serving in the
Cabinet, where she takes the lead in promoting issues of gender
equality. She was the only Minister to attend a recent candlelit
vigil for recognition of Global AIDS day. Mangal, who is close to
the PM, appears to be one of the more competent and capable
ministers with the rare willingness to try new approaches to bring
needed dynamism into the conduct of government business.
HARDT