(C/NF) EASTERN CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP (C-AL9-01941)

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 101238 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL SCUL AC BB DO GJ SC ST VC VE SUBJECT: (C/NF) EASTERN CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP (C-AL9-01941) REF: BRIDGETOWN 000407 Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATE PAST REPORTING ON LEADERSHIP STYLES AND GOVERNANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN. IN RECENT MONTHS, EASTERN CARIBBEAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN MORE OUTSPOKEN--AND SOME UNUSUALLY CRITICAL OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN PRAISING VENEZUELA--AND IT APPEARS THAT VENEZUELA'S FINANCIAL ATTENTION IS BEGINNING TO REAP MORE POLITICAL GAINS AND POTENTIAL IDEOLOGICAL ALLIES. ¶2. (C/NF) AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD WELCOME FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, BARBADOS, DOMINICA, GRENADA, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA, AND SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: (A) (C/NF) ARE LEADERS MODELING THEIR GOVERNING STYLE AFTER PRESIDENT CHAVEZ OR OTHER LEFT-LEANING, POPULIST FIGURES IN LATIN AMERICA? REF A, FOR INSTANCE, NOTES PRIME MINISTER SKERRIT SEEMS TO BE EMULATING CHAVEZ. (B) (C/NF) HAVE LEADERS CRACKED DOWN ON THE PRESS TO FURTHER THEIR OWN OBJECTIVES? (C) (C/NF) ARE ANY PLANNING TO ALTER THE CONSTITUTION TO PROLONG THEIR TENURE OR PASS THE REINS TO SUCCESSORS? (D) (C/NF) HOW CLOSE ARE EASTERN CARIBBEAN LEADERS TO POPULIST, LEFT-WING FIGURES ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION (CHAVEZ, THE CASTROS, MORALES, CORREA, ET AL)? HAVE THEIR RELATIONS CHANGED IN THE LAST YEAR, AND IN WHAT DIRECTION? (E) (C/NF) ARE CARIBBEAN ALBA MEMBERS LOBBYING OTHER CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY AND COMMON MARKET (CARICOM) COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE TIES TO IRAN OR VENEZUELA, SUCH AS THROUGH ALBA? IF SO, HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS AND WHAT REACTION ARE THEY RECEIVING? (F) (C/NF) HOW ARE CARIBBEAN ALBA MEMBERS' INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS REGARDING VENEZUELA, LIBYA, AND IRAN PLAYING AT HOME? ¶3. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01941 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON