Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KINGSTON697
2009-09-18 15:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

JAMAICA: GOJ WILL REFUSE COKE EXTRADITION REQUEST; PM FAVORS

Tags:  CJAN CVIS PREL PGOV PINR EIND ASEC SNAR SOCI KCOR 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0697/01 2611504
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 181504Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0014
INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0006
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0006
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:



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