Pol/Econ Roundup January 28-February 16

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000019 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - SEAN WHALEN/WILLARD SMITH AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/16 TAGS: PREL PGOV EMIN ECON XL GY SUBJECT: Pol/Econ Roundup January 28-February 16 REF: 10 GEORGETOWN 17; 10 GEORGETOWN 3; 10 GEORGETOWN 1 CLASSIFIED BY: Karen L. Williams, Charge d'affaires, DOS, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This periodic reporting cable highlights developments in Guyana's politics and economy affecting Department strategic objectives in country and throughout the Caribbean basin. Local Government Elections - STATUS UPDATE ¶2. (C) Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr. Robert Surujbally told PolChief on February 9 that GECOM is prepared for local elections to take place on the unannounced date of April 19, 2010. He said roughly 433,000 persons were registered, 25,000 persons are awaiting registration upon submission of valid birth certificates, and that approximately 90 percent of National ID Cards needed for citizens to vote were distributed via 80 plus registration offices. Surujbally said the claims and objections period closed as of February 8, 2010 ensuring that "no additional names can be entered unto the National List of Registrants." Legislation is in place, election manuals are prepared and GECOM is confident that local government elections will take place this year, he said. President Bharrat Jagdeo told Charge that he does not believe local elections will take place this year because of opposition party resistance. COMMENT: Local elections have not occurred since 1994. Several challenges remain that could postpone local elections indefinitely. The GoG has neither publicly announced a local election timeline nor launched an education exercise to explain the new electoral system. END COMMENT. OVERSEAS VOTE UNLIKELY ¶3. (C) Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran wrote in an article entitled "restoring the overseas vote" that Guyanese citizens residing abroad have a right to vote under the 1980 Constitution. He admitted that the overseas vote was "infamously abused in the elections of 1968 and 1973, restricted in 1980 and finally abolished for the 1985 elections." However, speculation is rife that Ramkarran, a potential People's Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate, is making this a political issue to garner more votes for the PPP while shifting blame for any potential voting mishaps on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He criticizes GECOM for not establishing registration procedures for overseas Guyanese to register to vote in the coming 2011 national elections. GECOM Chairman Surujbally told PolChief that due to past "abuses of the overseas vote" GECOM would not create such a mechanism and that the opposition parties would never agree to it. Ramkarran and others are conveniently using GECOM as a springboard to promote their own political interests, he said. NEW RIVER TRIANGLE BILATERAL TENSION BETWEEN GUYANA-SURINAME ¶4. (C) Media has reported deep "concerns" on the part of Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett regarding a public statement made by former Surinamese President Jules Wijdenbosch that he had contemplated giving orders in 1999 to Surinamese troops to enter the New River Triangle area which Guyana claims is part of its sovereign territory. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Frontiers Department Keith George, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett met with Surinamese Ambassador on Friday, February 12 to formally relay the GoG's "grave concern" over the public statement made by Suriname's past president and seek reassurance from the Surinamese Government that it does not seek "the use of force" to resolve the territorial dispute. George told PolChief on February 16 that Minister Rodrigues-Birkett addressed members of Guyana's National Assembly in a closed session on February 15 telling them that the "onus is on the Surinamese Government to make a public statement" reassuring Guyana that the "use of force" is not a component of Suriname's policy towards Guyana. GEORGETOWN 00000019 002 OF 002 NUMERICAL LIMITS ON MISSIONARIES ¶5. (C) Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee told PolChief on January 28 that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has set numerical limits on the number of foreign missionaries allowed into Guyana. He said the numerical limit of 15 was negotiated between the Mormons and GoG and that that would remain the yardstick in determining how many missionaries were allowed into Guyana. The only exception to the rule is Catholics because "they have been in Guyana for so long," he said. Rohee said that he would meet with all missionary groups to discuss their plans and intended numbers, implying that missionary groups that kept their numbers steady would not face problems. COMMENT: Rohee's decision on numerical limits for missionaries is purely based on what Rohee thinks is proper for Guyana and not based on Guyanese law. END COMMENT. BRAZILIAN MINERS LEGALLY PRESENT BUT MINING ILLEGALLY ¶6. (SBU) Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Executive Director Edward Shields estimates up to 10,000 Brazilians are mining in Guyana, several thousands of them illegally. He attributes much of the country's forest degradation to their inappropriate use of mercury and frenetic prospecting. Shields told EconOff that most Brazilian miners are legally present in Guyana, but are not authorized to work. Brazilians are able to operate without significant resistance from Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) enforcement officers since they routinely partner with Guyanese miners, who secure licenses and interface with authorities, Shields said. Mining industry experts believe the GoG's new mining regulations (see reftel A) would increase enforcement activities against several thousand Brazilian miners estimated to be illegally operating in Guyana. WILLIAMS