JAMAICA: FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER HESITANT ON EXTRADITION

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000655 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JOSLYN MACK-WILSON) (BALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) WHA/EPSC (MROONEY) (FCORNEILLE) EEB/ESC/IEC/EPC (MCMANUS) L/LEI (AKLUESENER) INR/RES (RWARNER) JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY) SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON CJAN ETRD EAID SNAR AID DEA JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER HESITANT ON EXTRADITION BUT INTERESTED IN MORE ECONOMIC COOPERATION REF: STATE 85807 (181409Z AUG 09)(NOTAL) ¶1. (SBU) Charge', accompanied by EmbOff, paid an introductory courtesy call on Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, on the morning of August 28. Charge' requested assistance from Baugh on a recent dipnote regarding the extradition request for Christopher Coke, a Jamaican facing drug trafficking and conspiracy charges in the U.S. (reftel). Baugh was non-committal, stating that he had only recently returned from Organization of American States (OAS) meetings in Honduras, but that he would review the request and proceed accordingly. Baugh recognized the Government of Jamaica (GOJ)'s responsibilities under regional and international agreements, but emphasized that GOJ must feel satisfied that the rule of law and the citizen's due process rights are being upheld before proceeding. Charge' conveyed the USG's high level of interest in resolving this matter expeditiously and offered to provide additional information if needed. Baugh responded that it is a sensitive issue, and he must ensure that due process is applied. (Note: Christopher Coke is a wealthy, powerful area leader for the ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) in the Tivoli Gardens district of Kingston; the extradition request has generated considerable publicity. End Note.) ¶2. (SBU) Baugh acknowledged the long-standing and productive relationship with the U.S. on extradition and other matters and explained that Jamaica is looking to intensify economic cooperation and trade relations. He expressed his concerns about increased drug-related violence in Jamaica as progress on the Merida Initiative in Mexico forces suppliers to look for other transshipment points into the U.S. market. He hopes that funding to combat narco-trafficking and other criminal activity would soon be available to Jamaica through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Baugh also inquired as to the arrival of the new Ambassador, predicting that she will be well-received in Jamaica. Comment: Charge' will continue to emphasize the importance of prompt and positive action on the USG's extradition request with GOJ officials as appropriate. PARNELL