MANNING HIGH ON OBAMA, WANTS TO DEEPEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000175

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR A/S SHANNON FROM CHARLES SHAPIRO; NSC FOR
RESTREPO; STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR EISSENSTAT; STATE
ALSO FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/CCA AND USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ECON KSUM TD
SUBJECT: MANNING HIGH ON OBAMA, WANTS TO DEEPEN
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S.

Classified By: Charge Charles Shapiro


1. (C) I met with Prime Minister Patrick Manning the morning
of April 21 to discuss the Summit and to take my leave of
him. Also participating were the PM's Special Assistant Kirt
St. Bernard and two aides; DCM Kusnitz was with me. I thanked
Manning, on behalf of the President, for hosting a successful
Summit and for putting up with all of our requests as we
prepared the President's participation in the event. Upbeat
and relaxed, Manning responded by noting his great pleasure
that President Obama had come to T&T so early in his term.
The President had been "a big hit here." Manning's only
regret was that the President Obama did not interact more
with Trinidad's people. He related that when things bogged
down at the Retreat over the Summit Declaration, the
President offered a solution and all the others followed.


2. (C) The PM then turned to Cuba, noting there will be a
move at the June OASGA to overturn the 1962 resolution
suspending Cuba's membership. The U.S. needs to get in front
of this wave, Manning advised. I observed the Cubans have
said they are not overly interested in the OAS, Manning
responded that "they can be talked into it ... Havana just
doesn't want to appear too anxious." Manning urged the
President to meet with Raul Castro. While the OAS can make it
possible to resume full membership, the U.S. and Cuba should
work out their differences directly. I suggested that T&T
should use its influence to encourage Cuba to make positive
moves in response to the substantial changes the President
has made to Cuba policy. He reiterated: "Just talk to Raul
and the rest is history."


3. (C) Recognizing Trinidad's natural leadership in CARICOM,
I asked what we could do to work closer with Trinidad and
CARICOM in the UN and the OAS. I stressed that we want to
build on what we have achieved in working together to assure
a successful Summit. Manning agreed, but said he was still
"peeved" at the Bush Administration for what he perceived as
a lack of attention/respect. We "gave the U.S. energy
security and got nothing" in return. He stressed that
Trinidad is a stable supplier and as the U.S. seeks to
diversify its LNG sources to places like Qatar, it needs to
keep that in mind.


4. (C) Manning underscored Eastern Caribbean (OECS) regional
integration remains a priority for him. The neighboring
countries are small and their economies challenged; Trinidad
will do what it can to assist them. Along these lines,
Manning said he has a "dispensation" from CARICOM to seek a
bilateral "partial scope agreement" on energy with the United
States. He mentioned this goal to the President and USTR Kirk
and said it would include polypropylene and aluminum and T&T
could involve its regional partners in the supply chain.

Comment: Aglow
- - - - - - - -


5. (C) Manning was relaxed, jovial and clearly pleased with
the way the Summit turned out and with the President's visit.
He continues to see himself as a potential player in bringing
the U.S. and Cuba together and as the wealthy relative
looking out for the interest of the poorer Eastern Caribbean
states. Manning is aglow now, but his past penchant for
feeling slighted -- and that his country is being ignored --
will manifest itself in the future absent some attention from
Washington. It is worth the effort to build on Manning's (new
found) positive views about the United States and especially
about the President. Manning has the ability to bring many of
CARICOM's 14 votes along with him at the UN and OAS.
SHAPIRO