Pol/Econ Round-up December 8-December 24

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000553 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - SEAN WHALEN/WILLARD SMITH AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/23 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON SENV GY SUBJECT: Pol/Econ Round-up December 8-December 24 REF: 09 GEORGETOWN 522; 09 GEORGETOWN 543 CLASSIFIED BY: Karen L. Williams, Charge d'affaires, DOS, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This "round-up" reporting cable covers December 8-December 24. Copenhagen - Lower Than Expected Results ¶2. (U) Local media reported that the UN Climate Change Summit ended on lower than expected results. President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed disappointment with the total agreement, but claimed his own political victory for having REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) enshrined in the final agreement. While calling for greater commitments by both the U.S. and China to assist the developing world and reduce their own greenhouse gas emission levels, he secured political victory at home with his Low Carbon Development Strategy passed in Parliament on December 17. Media reaction toward President Obama's speech delivered in Copenhagen was lukewarm as skepticism remains over the actual amount the U.S. plans to contribute towards the proposed USD100 billion global climate funds. Ramsaroop Criticizes Embassy After Girlfriend Denied Visa Thrice ¶3. (SBU) Opposition Party Alliance for Change (AFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Ramsaroop publicly criticized the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown for "lack of economic focus" after his girlfriend was refused a U.S. tourist visa for the third time. Ramsaroop was quoted in the newspapers as stating that he wants to "give up" U.S. citizenship and that the U.S. Embassy is not interested in facilitating investments in Guyana whereas the Chinese and Russian mission in Guyana "continually bring in investors from China and Russia." Ramsaroop is a naturalized U.S. citizen who previously served as a Military Officer in the U.S. Air Force where he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Ramsaroop's 24-year old unemployed girlfriend has been denied a visa every year since 2007. Minister Admits Police Brutality In torture OF 15-YEAR-OLD ¶4. (SBU) On December 9, Minister of Home Affairs (MoHA) Clement Rohee publicly released the GoG's report on police abuses of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas. Rohee stated that he fully supports advice proffered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with respect to disciplinary and criminal charges against Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks. Rohee confirmed that the teenager was "tortured", that disciplinary and criminal charges are to be made against ranks of the GPF, and that MoHA expressed regret to both the victim and his family. Opposition Party AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan is representing the victim in his lawsuit against the GoG. Rohee stated that "every effort is being made to ensure that there is no repetition of such incidents in the future" without specifying details. PolChief is scheduled to meet with Rohee on December 29 to discuss human rights cases and the GoG response to preventing future incidents. ROGER Khan Saga Continues ¶5. (C) Former Army Major and close associate of drug kingpin Roger Khan, David Clarke's time-served sentence and release sent shockwaves among local media. Most newspapers allege that both Major Clarke and to an extent, Khan, were given lighter sentences due to valuable information they provided to the U.S. on senior Guyanese officials involved in narcotics trafficking. The perception here is that compared to the 14-year sentence for Roger Khan lawyer Robert Simels for witness tampering, Clarke got off easy. Media criticized GoG for not informing the Guyanese public for nearly three years about Clarke's incarceration and charges in the U.S. Subsequent GPF investigations into Khan have not linked Khan to crimes in Guyana. Chief of Criminal Investigation GEORGETOWN 00000553 002 OF 002 Department (CID),Seelall Persaud, maintains his position that he needs more information from the U.S. COMMENT: In 2007 Persaud publicly stated that Khan was involved in narcotics trafficking, but has changed that line, presumably in exchange for political favor from higher-ups eager to maintain innocence and zero links to Khan. END COMMENT. Will Local Government Elections Ever Occur? ¶6. (C) The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) (No.2) Bill of 2009 was passed in Parliament on Thursday December 10. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has also extended the deadline until December 31 for citizens to obtain National ID cards to register to vote in local and national elections. Local elections have not occurred in Guyana since 1994. While passing a bill and starting a new system of registration are positive steps, skepticism remains over local election timelines. GECOM head Steve Surujbally told the Charge December 22 that elections have been scheduled, but not announced yet for April 19. Former Foreign Minister, Rashleigh Jackson, told PolChief that several challenges remain that could postpone local elections indefinitely. Challenges cited include capacity of various political parties to move forward with local elections when national elections are scheduled in 2011, ambiguity remaining over a possible third term for Jagdeo, and potentially other political dramas that could derail local elections from occurring on or before December 1, ¶2010. WILLIAMS