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