Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE101238
2009-09-29 15:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:
(C/NF) EASTERN CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP (C-AL9-01941)
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1238 2721549 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 291530Z SEP 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 1469
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).
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
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