JAMAICA: RESPONSE TO CARIBBEAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT LBS

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000609 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JMACK-WILSON) (VDEPIRRO) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY)(FCORNEILLE) OES/OPA (DAVID HERMANN)(RDOMAINQUE) DEPT PLEASE PASS TO EPA FOR PATRICK COTTER NOAA FOR ELIZABETH MCLANAHAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIS SENV PHSA EIND JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: RESPONSE TO CARIBBEAN MARINE ENVIRONMENT LBS PROTOCOL REF: A) STATE 80046 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche request on Land-Based Sources (LBS) Protocol, Emboff met with Pat Sinclair McCalla, Permanent Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister on August 11. McCalla said the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is in strong support of the LBS protocol and will look to fast-track ratification, if possible. The Parliament is in recess until September, so any movement would come after the break. ¶2. (SBU) McCalla said Jamaica is sensitive to issues of pollution and is concerned about its impact on the vital tourism sector along the North Coast. She commented, that the U.S. Embassy is "speaking to the converted" when it comes to environmental issues, adding that the GOJ cannot be too careful with the protection of the marine environment. She noted that the GOJ is already testing effluence along the North Coast on a regular basis. She also said she will follow up with Post on the issue in the near future. Post will report any subsequent information which comes to our attention. MOSS