REGIONAL INTEGRATION TASK FORCE REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000250

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR and INR/IAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECIN PGOV XL TD
SUBJECT: REGIONAL INTEGRATION TASK FORCE REPORT

REF: PORT OF SPAIN 233

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) SUMMARY: The long-promised report on advancing regional
economic (by 2011) and political (by 2013) integration was released
May 30. Weighing in at 394 pages (with a separate shorter 164-page
"Summary" version),the report is in line with CARICOM Single Market
and Economy (CSME) goals of free movement of labor and goods among
member states. It goes beyond the CSME in calling for joint
offshore energy exploration and fisheries management, integration in
other productive and social sectors, and advocating an
"evolutionary" movement toward regional governance and combined
diplomatic presence. Countries so far expressing interest -- St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Trinidad and
Tobago. END SUMMARY.

On the Web
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2. (U) Drafted by a committee chaired by University of the West
Indies Professor Vaughn Lewis, a former St. Lucia PM, the report was
passed to regional leaders at a May 24 Port of Spain meeting (ref).
It is posted at http://foreign.gov.tt/pages/introduction2.php .

Economic Union
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3. (U) The report calls for the free circulation of goods and, to
the greatest extent possible, labor withn the proposed union. It
suggests joint oil exploration/exploitation led by Trinidad's
Petrotrin,particularly off the southern coast of Grenada, aswell
as the constrction of a natural gas pipelie from Trinidad to the
other three interested sttes and ultimately to all OECS countries.



4. (U) The report advocates enhanced fisheries management via
regional regulatory mechanisms. Further recommendations address the
promotion of green energy, environmental protection and
conservation, a regional warning and control system for natural and
man-made disasters, and enhanced maritime domain awareness. The
report also calls for a merger of the transportation sectors of all
four states and looks favorably upon "open skies" agreements.
Common social security and educational systems are also advocated.

Political Union
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5. (U) Economic union in 2011 would be accompanied by a loose form
of political governance. Final governance structures, set for 2013,
would then evolve naturally out of discussions and experiences
shared by member states. As a start, the report envisions a
"Council of States" composed of government heads and a separate
quasi-legislative arm with representatives from the government and
opposition of each member state. The top judicial body would be the
Caribbean Court of Justice. The report also suggests a coordinated
foreign policy and the consolidation of diplomatic missions. In
addition, it supports joint representation at international and
regional organizations in New York (UN),Geneva (WTO, UNCTAD, ILO,
WIPO, ITU, WMO) and Washington (OAS, IBRD, IADB, IMF).

Reactions
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6. (SBU) The ruling PNM intends to discuss the report at a June 21
party assembly. Public reaction to the voluminous document has been
muted, perhaps reflecting the jaundiced view that it is one more
political project that will have little impact on the common man.
Opposition leaders at an early June lunch hosted by the CDA said
they lacked details of the project, but were skeptical and
pronounced it another Manning aggrandizement effort. They advocated
a nationwide referendum prior to any integration, while admitting
they were not sure whether such a vote would be constitutional.

Comment
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7. (SBU) COMMENT: Putting some flesh on the bones of the joint
declaration Manning agreed to with his counterparts from St. Lucia,
SVG, and Grenada in August 2008, the task force report parallels the
CSME in its agenda for economic union while charting a new course on
political union. Several points that would appeal to smaller states
may provoke concern in T&T when and if people focus on the report,
such as the proposal to merge unreliable LIAT with the relatively
efficient Caribbean Airlines and the assumption that Petrotrin is up
to the task of drilling for oil and gas in deep water. The Union
would remain open for other states to sign on, but the report's
sharp focus on issues of interest to the OECS suggests that T&T has
for the time being given up on enticing larger CARICOM members.
Whether it (and other interested states) can make progress on

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pushing this effort forward remains to be seen.

KUSNITZ