JAMAICA: GOJ WILL REFUSE COKE EXTRADITION REQUEST; PM FAVORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000697 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JMACK-WILSON) (BALVARADO) (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) L/LEI (CHOLLAND) (AKLUESNER) INR/IAA (GBOHIGAN) JUSTICE FOR OIA (PPETTY) TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW INR/RES (RWARNER) PASS TO CENTRAL AMERICAN CARIBBEAN BASIN COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/18 TAGS: CJAN CVIS PREL PGOV PINR EIND ASEC SNAR SOCI KCOR KCRM, XL, JM SUBJECT: JAMAICA: GOJ WILL REFUSE COKE EXTRADITION REQUEST; PM FAVORS NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR MIDDLE INCOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES REF: REF: A. STATE 85807; B. KINGSTON 502; C. KINGSTON 648 CLASSIFIED BY: Isiah Parnell, CDA; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) Summary: ¶1. (C) Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding advised CDA that the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) would not comply with the USG's extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke on "technical grounds" and that a dipnote to that effect is being prepared (Reftel A). During a later telephone conversation with the CDA, Foreign Minister (FM) Kenneth Baugh clarified that the dipnote will not be a refusal to comply with the extradition treaty but a request for additional information. ¶2. (C) News of the noncompliance of the extradition request will likely hit the media soon after the dip note is released, and post requests guidance as to how to proceed. Post proposes a statement that confirms receipt of the GOJ's dip note, acknowledges that the request was denied and the USG's disappointment, and states that the USG will study the dipnote in greater detail before making further comment. Post awaits receipt of dip note scheduled for Friday, September 18, or early next week. End Summary. GOJ To Deny Coke Extradition On "Technical Grounds" -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In a very cordial September 18 introductory meeting with CDA, Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding raised a number of issues of concern to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and the Caribbean region, several of which he said Foreign Minister (FM) Kenneth Baugh plans to address in his September 25th meeting with SecState at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). After two years in office, Golding was reflective and noted that the challenges his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had dealt with were greater than he'd anticipated, especially on the economic front. ¶4. (C) The PM acknowledged the receipt of the August 26 dipnote requesting the extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke on drug and weapons conspiracy charges, but stated that he had been recently advised by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) that the request would not be honored at this time on "technical grounds." The PM was not aware of the complete details of the pending action, but said that the MOJ had concluded that the names of the confidential witnesses cited in the indictment, one of whom claims to be an employee of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF),should have been included in the extradition packet so that the MOJ might corroborate the allegations against Coke. ¶5. (C) Despite the CDA's reminder of the importance of a positive response to the USG's request, as well as the fact that the Coke extradition request had followed the same format as several others that the GOJ had not questioned on similar grounds, the PM gave no indication that the decision not to comply with the request might be reconsidered. The PM said that the USG could expect a formal response via dipnote by Friday, September 18 or early the following week. Calls for Reclassification of Middle Income States -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The PM reiterated his belief that the U.S. and other donor nations should recognize the particular difficulties faced by middle income developing states such as Jamaica, given their poverty and vulnerabilities to economic shocks and natural disasters. Such a classification, based on per capita income, precludes these countries from accessing concessionary financing and other creative measures to reduce their debt, alleviate poverty, and pursue sustainable development policies. In his remarks to the 2008 UNGA, Golding suggested redesignating the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states as "small, vulnerable and highly indebted middle-income countries" to reflect the peculiar needs of middle-income countries with deep pockets of poverty." ¶7. (C) Without special funding for middle income developing countries, Golding said that Jamaica will be at a competitive disadvantage in attracting potential investors and development will continue to lag. Based on its current status, the GOJ can't compete for the best interest rates from international lenders, while the 15-20 percent rates currently available to investors in Jamaica stunt development opportunities. ¶8. (C) Nevertheless, the PM was not ready to discuss the GOJ's ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), although he did say that if the GOJ did receive the US 1.2 billion loan currently being negotiated, it would be used not to pay down high interest debts but rather for current account obligations (Reftel D). Favors Merida Initiative For Caribbean -------------- ¶9. (C) The PM once again pushed for a regional anti-narcotic trafficking initiative for the Caribbean basin akin to the 2007 Merida Initiative for Mexico and Central America. If Merida is successful, Golding pointed out, drug traffickers will likely continue to redirect their routes through the Caribbean. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, though necessary and important, should not be a substitute for more direct anti-narcotic funding for Jamaica, Golding contended. Plans For Civil Service Reform -------------- ¶10. (C) The PM was critical of the poor service and cronyism endemic within Jamaica's public sector and promised that civil service reform would be the GOJ's next priority. Golding said that he would like to see private service providers taking on some public services and more public sector employee cuts, although he offered no specific plans or details (Reftel C). He praised USAID's technical assistance program and asked if funding and/or training might be available for his efforts to improve and professionalize GOJ's civil service. Tourism -------------- ¶11. (C) Golding expressed deep concern over Jamaica's tourism industry and the island's image among U.S. and Canadian tourists. He pointed out that most of the nation's crime problems are centralized in the downtown Kingston area and that tourists are rarely victims of serious crime. The PM was familiar and unhappy with the USG's negative description of Jamaica's safety, security, and crime environment on the Bureau of Consular Affairs webpage. CDA commented that travel language is reviewed and updated on a regular basis and that the embassy very much looked forward to the time when the security situation in Jamaica will have improved. Conclusion and Recommendation -------------- ¶12. (C) News of the denial of the extradition request will likely hit the media soon after the dipnote is released; Post requests guidance as to how to proceed. Post proposes a statement that confirms receipt of the GOJ's dip note, acknowledges that the request was denied and the USG's disappointment, and states that the USG will study the dipnote in greater detail before making further comment. Parnell Parnell