WHA/CAR DIRECTOR MEETS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT OF SPAIN 000334

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR (MICHAEL FORTIN AND JON MITCHELL)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID ECON KCRM TD
SUBJECT: WHA/CAR DIRECTOR MEETS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER ON
CARIBBEAN BASIN SECURITY INITIATIVE

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: WHA Caribbean Office Director Velia De Pirro
discussed the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative on August 3 with
National Security Minister Martin Joseph, who expressed pleasure
over the nascent program. Joseph urged a regional approach and was
pleased that his thinking was consistent our approach. De Pirro
related the USG was working the CBSI in an interagency manner and
encouraged Trinidad to do the same. CARICOM is in the final stages
of preparing its security strategy and will present it at the August
13 Barbados working group meeting. The WHA/CAR Director further
noted we were interested in reaching out to non-Caribbean state
partners, like Canada. The Minister personally welcomed this, but
needed to consult with CARICOM colleagues before the issue is
discussed at the working group session. In a separate Foreign
Minister August 4 meeting, De Pirro also was told of GOTT enthusiasm
for the CBSI. END SUMMARY.

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CBSI
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2. (SBU) Visiting WHA/CAR Office Director Velia De Pirro,
accompanied by the CDA and ECON/POLOff (notetaker),met August 3
with National Security Minister Martin Joseph to discuss next steps
on the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). The Minister was
accompanied by Defense Transition head Commodore Garnett Best and
members of his International Affairs staff.

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Well Prepared
--------------


3. (SBU) De Pirro said the U.S. was diligently preparing for the
August 13 Barbados working group meeting, looking at overall
security strategy for the region as well as potential projects.
Noting his pleasure that the USG was taking a regional approach, the
Minister replied CARICOM is in the final stages of approving a
security paper to be tabled in Barbados. De Pirro queried about
receiving a copy of the document prior to the meeting, but Joseph
demurred saying it is still pending heads of government approval.


4. (SBU) The WHA/CAR Director added she would lead the USG
interagency meeting team and encouraged Joseph to have Trinidad
represented by all relevant GOTT agencies. The Minister answered
his government was sending representatives from National Security,
the Attorney General's office, and the MFA. De Pirro expressed her
hope that progress on a consensus regional security strategy, action
plan, and agenda/schedule for future CBSI meetings could move
forward at next week's session.

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Partners?
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5. (SBU) Noting the Canadian government is interested in stepping up
activity in the Caribbean, De Pirro suggested Ottawa could usefully
be included in the CBSI. If fruitful, this could be expanded to
include other partner nations like Britain, France, the Netherlands,
and Spain. The Minister responded he had no trouble with Canada's
participation but could not speak unilaterally for CARICOM and
needed to consult with his fellow National Security Ministers.
Joseph and De Pirro agreed that Canada's participation in CBSI would
be a useful topic to formally discuss in Bridgetown.

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Funding
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6. (SBU) Minister Joseph asked about CBSI funding. De Pirro recalled
that the President announced an initial $30 million for the
initiative at the Summit of the Americas. The actual initial budget
request, on what we hope will be a multi-year program with greater
funding, was $45 million. The House approved $37 million, but the
Senate has not yet appropriated any funds. De Pirro was hopeful a
conference committee would back the initiative. Joseph said
Trinidad and other CARICOM states intended to make their positive
view of the CBSI known to key legislators as a way of encouraging
funding.

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Foreign Minister on Board as Well
--------------


7. (SBU) In a separate August 4 meeting with Foreign Minister Paula
Gopee-Scoon, the WHA/CAR Director reinforced the value of the CBSI
effort and briefed the Minister on its current status. The FM was
grateful for the information and expressed enthusiasm about the

PORT OF SP 00000334 002 OF 002


initiative. Later that evening at a reception at the Charge's
residence, the Foreign Minister informed De Pirro that she had
spoken with Minister Joseph and named an MFA representative to join
Trinidad's delegation to the Barbados' meeting.


8. (U) This cable has been cleared by WHA/CAR Director De Pirro.


KUSNITZ