LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM PRIME MINISTER BRUCE

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000278

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY TEXT

WHA/CAR (BRIDGET PREMONT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL SNAR ASEC KCRM JM XL
SUBJECT: LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM PRIME MINISTER BRUCE
GOLDING


1. (SBU) Under cover of the following Government of Jamaica
Diplomatic Note No. 5/504/1 of April 6, post has received the
below letter from Prime Minister Bruce Golding addressed to
the President:

(Begin Text of Diplomatic Note)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of
America and has the honour to transmit hereto, copy of a
letter from the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable
Bruce Golding, M.P., to the President of the United States of
America, Mr. Barack H. Obama.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the
United States of America, the assurances of its highest
consideration.

(End text of Diplomatic Note)

(Begin text of letter to the President)

Dear Mr. President:

I commend you on the decisive action you have taken in
collaboration with the Mexican Government to confront the
drug cartels and to eliminate the threat they pose to the
security of both the United States and Mexico. The government
of Jamaica supports the efforts being made by the United
States through the Merida Initiative to combat drug
trafficking through Mexico and Central America.

I further welcome your recent statement that the United
States will intensify its efforts to control the flow of
illegal guns and cash from the United States to drug cartels.

Jamaica remains extremely vulnerable to the predatory
activities of these criminal networks. As an island state
located along a major route between the source and
destination of illicit drugs and faced with severe resource
constraints, our surveillance, investigation and apprehension
capabilities are not commensurate with the threats to which
we are exposed.

We appreciate the assistance and cooperation which the US
authorities have provided us. However, our counter-narcotics
activities need to be strengthened and intensified.

I urge you, notwithstanding the emphasis justifiably placed
on the Mexican border, to consider expanding the initiative
to incorporate the Western Caribbean and, in particular,
Jamaica, the Bahamas, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Jamaica remains fully committed to cooperating with the
United States in repelling this grave threat to both our
countries.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Bruce Golding, MP
Prime Minister

(End text of letter to the President)


2. (U) Copies of the note and of the letter have been faxed to
WHA/CAR.
HEG