T&T RESPONSE TO U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000052 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, ISN, PM, DTRA, ATF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF KCRM PREL PGOV TD SUBJECT: T&T RESPONSE TO U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN ARMS IN THE AMERICAS REFTEL STATE 08063 ¶1. (U) In response to reftel, Post delivered a non-paper regarding U.S. assistance programs to combat illicit trafficking in small arms to Trinidad & Tobago's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director of International Affairs in the Ministry of National Security Antoinette Lucas-Andrews; Special Advisor in the Ministry of National Security Richardson Franklin; Director of the Defense Transformation and Integration Secretariat, Ministry of National Security Commodore Garnet Best; Director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Serena Harris and Director of CARICOM IMPACS Lynn Anne Williams. ¶2. (U) Harris responded that the information is timely and that she would most certainly be pursuing the issue. The SSA is the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) central coordinating agency for the suppression of illicit drug trafficking. Under this directive, the SSA also monitors the trafficking of illegal arms and ammunition. Post will report any further developments. KUSNTIZ