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