JAMAICA: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON NARCOTICS BENCHMARKS;

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000355 STATE FOR INL/LP - DIANNE GRAHAM WHA/CAR - ANDRE CADIEUX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PINR PREL EWWT EAIR PTER ASEC KCOR KCRM JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON NARCOTICS BENCHMARKS; AGENDA OF NEW NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER REF: (A) GRAHAM-LEWIS E-MAIL (B) KINGSTON 294 (151633Z APR 09)(NOTAL) (C) 08 KINGSTON 707 (052139Z AUG 08) (D) KINGSTON 303 (211132Z APR 09) (E) STATE 44630 (011906Z MAY 09) Summary -------------- 1.(SBU) Charg met with Jamaica's new Minister of National Security, Dwight Nelson, and delivered demarche on the 2009 Benchmarks for certification under the Majors List process on May 4. Nelson said his top priorities were improving Jamaica's border security, particularly its air and sea ports, stamping out the easy access to illegal weapons, and working to increase Jamaica's control of trafficking in illegal narcotics. End Summary. 2.(U) In attendance for the U.S. Embassy - Charg James T. Heg, NAS Director Andrea Lewis, and Defense Attach Dominic Micillo; for the Ministry of National Security - Minister Dwight Nelson, Permanent Secretary Richard Reese, Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, and Col. Rocky Meade of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF). 3.(SBU) Charge' outlined the Major's List certification process and the statutory requirements for both the designation of Major's list countries and the decision criteria to ensure compliance with international counter narcotics obligations. He further explained that the benchmarks he was presenting had been carefully coordinated in Washington, drawing on advice from the NAS and U.S. law enforcement at Post, and in consultation with members of the Jamaican security establishment, and were in many instances based upon programs and collaboration that were ongoing between Jamaica and the USA. Neither the Minister nor his staff objected to any of the benchmarks, but the Minister rightfully commented that the benchmark urging the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) to vet the Financial Investigative Division (FID) and ensure passage of the FID Act was a matter to discuss with the Ministry of Finance (which Charg has done on several occasions). National Vetting Policy -------------- 4.(SBU) Major Reese updated the group on progress to implement a national vetting policy for persons in sensitive positions. All the Permanent Secretaries have given their assent; it simply remains for the Office of the Public Service Commission, which is the chief civil service personnel organization, and the Office of the Prime Minister, to approve. The Revenue Protection Division (Jamaica's criminal tax investigative agency) already has begun implementation of the policy for its entire staff. The other key organizations that will fall under this new policy are the FID, Jamaican Customs, Immigration, and the Ministry of National Security. 5.(SBU) There was a short discussion of the importance to continue their efforts to investigate and prosecute/discipline corrupt police officers. Just that morning, it had been announced that the corruption prosecution of Sup. Harry Daley (reftel C) had again been adjourned for two months because of the unavailability of defense counsel. The Minister and Commissioner of Police expressed dismay at the delay. Nelson assured us he would speak with the Minister of Justice, whom he believed was equally disappointed. The Commissioner indicated that the issue of unnecessary court postponements was a standing item at each National Security Council meeting. Top Security Priorities -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Nelson took the opportunity to outline for Charg his primary concerns: improving border security (top priority); limiting the easy access to guns (both legal and illegal); and beefing up investigation, eradication, and interdiction of illegal narcotics. Nelson stated that in his view, the illegal narcotics trade is the basis for most of Jamaica's crime problems. The narcotics trade fuels gun purchases, and provides the financial oxygen that crime gangs need to survive. The presence of this trade has a deleterious effect on Jamaican society, as well as a negative impact on Jamaica's relations with its major international partners -- the USA, Canada, and the UK. 7.(SBU) The Minister was firm in his belief that Jamaica had adequate systems in place to provide surveillance and security; the problem was the people operating the systems. In his view, Jamaica has hampered itself by not instituting a system of proscriptive discipline that would allow for the rapid removal of civil servants who violate the rules. Nelson pledged to use his prior experience as Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance to try to find ways to change the current personnel dynamic. Port Security Bill -------------- 8.(SBU) The Commissioner encouraged the Minister to look to resubmit the Port Security Bill to Parliament for consideration. This legislation, which was originally conceived by former Minister of National Security Peter Phillips, would provide a common platform for Port Security under the leadership of the Ministry of National Security that would set the security standards and monitor the performance of the agencies with front-line responsibility to provide security at the air and sea ports. Airport Security -------------- 9.(SBU) Charg informed Nelson of the Transportation Security Administration inspection of Jamaica's airports (May 5-9). Since the April 19 attempted hijacking of a CanJet airliner in Montego Bay (reftel D),Nelson has been in regular contact with Minister of Transportation Mike Henry. Nelson and Henry are involved in an ongoing process of reviewing the after-action reports of the hijacking as well as examining the security improvements that need to be made. Nelson commented that although the day-to-day operations of the airports fall under Minster Henry's portfolio, for him, airport security transcends civil aviation and is a matter of National Security. Nelson and Henry should present the after-action report to Cabinet next week; Nelson intends then to continue with a more in-depth look at possible security improvements. Proliferation Security Initiative Outreach and Caribbean Anti-Gang conferences -------------- - 10.(SBU) Charg also briefly touched on the Proliferation Security Initiative Outreach and Anti-Gang conferences, which will take place May 14 and May 5-9, respectively, and thanked the Minister for allowing his staff to participate. Comment -------------- 11.(SBU) There were some concerns at the outset that Minister Nelson's lack of security experience might present a great challenge. However, he seemed fully in control at the meeting; when an issue came up with which he was not familiar, he seemed quite comfortable asking his advisors to fill him in. This was the first meeting Embassy has had with a GoJ Minister of National Security in which the Commissioner of Police and a representative of the JDF headquarters have participated; this is a welcome change in leadership style which may prove productive. 12.(SBU) Note: Via septel, Post will report on engagement with Nelson and with the GoJ's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) regarding the U.S.-Caribbean technical discussions to advance the CBSI Dialogue (reftel E). End Note. HEG