Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PORTOFSPAIN28
2009-01-23 17:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:  

SUMMIT OF AMERICA LOGISTICS: A RACE TO THE FINISH

Tags:  PREL PGOV AORC AMGT KSUM TD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSP #0028/01 0231711
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231711Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9637
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0875
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000028 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EX, WHA/USOAS, AND A/PTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC AMGT KSUM TD
SUBJECT: SUMMIT OF AMERICA LOGISTICS: A RACE TO THE FINISH

Classified By: CDA Len Kusnitz; Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000028

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EX, WHA/USOAS, AND A/PTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC AMGT KSUM TD
SUBJECT: SUMMIT OF AMERICA LOGISTICS: A RACE TO THE FINISH

Classified By: CDA Len Kusnitz; Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is
working hard on preparations for the April 17-19 Summit of
the Americas, but it is somewhat behind schedule. The GOTT,
however, has begun a concerted effort to pull off the event,
now less than three months away. For its part, the public is
enthusiastic about a possible visit by President Obama and
Secretary Clinton, but skeptical about the cost of the event
(and that of the later Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting) during a time of economic downturn. Picking up on
this theme, the opposition is sniping at the government over
the summits. End Summary.

Got to Move Fast
--------------


2. (C) The GOTT has been making preparations for the Summit
for over a year, though only in the last 45 days or so has it
begun to earnestly focus on logistical concerns. While it is
preparing the Summit venues (relatively few in number) has
contracted with cruise ship companies for additional lodging
and hired an accreditation firm, other logistical aspects of
the Summit are behind schedule. Some hotel reconstruction is
still underway, the plan to use the old airport terminal to
receive dignitaries and park their planes there remains just
that -- a plan, and security issues are only now being
grappled with.


3. (C) The Summit effort also has been hampered by personnel
glitches and turf battles. In the first part of December,
there was a shake-up on the security side, pushed through
after a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee charged
with overseeing the Summit. Overall control of security was
moved from the Summit Secretariat and centered in the
National Security Ministry. Former National Security Adviser
Joan Massiah, who had just moved to the Summit Secretariat in
November, left as part of this shake-up. The central working
level security contact at National Security, Commodore Best,

is currently hospitalized for stress-related exhaustion,
though expected to be back at work next week. The Foreign
Ministry continues on the margins of the Summit declaration
negotiations and logistical preparations, though the Minister
does sit on the Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by the
able Minister of State in the Finance Ministry Mariano
Browne.

Canadians Concerned
--------------


4. (C/NF) Canadian High Commissioner Karen McDonald hosted a
luncheon meeting January 20 with us to exchange Summit views.
Although the Summit Secretariat is well staffed at the top
levels, she opined, the mid-level support staff was
insufficient, thus encouraging Summit coordinator Rodriguez
to micromanage rather than delegate. In addition, few
contracts for supplies and other goods had been finalized,
and some Canadian companies had withdrawn their bids because
it was already too late to assure delivery. Despite all
this, the HC was optimistic matters would work out and the
Summit come off, especially as the Prime Minister is
increasingly focused on the meeting. At a separate January
21 event the Argentine Ambassador also expressed frustration
to us over the pace at which Summit logistics are advancing.
Perhaps in response to some of these concerns, the GOTT has
called a January 30 meeting for resident Embassies and any
advance personnel that attend to discuss logistical and
security concerns. (Note: The draft agenda seems to go over
ground with which the USG is already familiar. We will be
attending the session.)

Opposition Stoking Public Skepticism
--------------


5. (C) Several editorials, letters to the editor and
opposition politicians have questioned the value of the
Summit and later Commonwealth meeting, asking what Trinidad
is getting for the supposed $80-100 million being spent on
the events. The Summit Secretariat has told us it has a
communications plan to highlight the value of the
Summit/Commonwealth processes, but has been mostly on the
defensive and has recently replaced its communications
director. Its public relations woes were evident in the
December beating the GOTT took over the procurement of 200
"luxury" vehicles for foreign dignitaries attending the
meetings and in last week's brouhaha over whether the port
would be closed for the two weeks around the Summit. In the
latter instance, Public Works Minister Colm Imbert held a
press conference and stated the port would be closed only
April 17-19, and that cargo ships could be diverted to Point
Lisas if necessary.

Behind, but running fast
--------------


6. (C/NF) Comment: Summit preparations are behind schedule,
including for the side fora (e.g. the business, youth and
civil society meetings). That said, the GOTT knows that a
failure to carry off the Summit successfully will damage its
reputation at home and abroad and it is beginning to pull out
all the stops as the clock ticks down. Most of our contacts,
like the Canadian High Commissioner, believe the GOTT will
find a way to piece it all together at the end of the day,
though the run-up to the event will be stressful and glitches
inevitable.
KUSNITZ