JAMAICA / HAITI / CARICOM: RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000060

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE
USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
WHA/CAR
SAN JOSE FOR OFDA
PANAMA FOR DR. BAYUK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC MARR PREL PINR AMGT SOCI OVIP EAID
SMIG, KFLO, HA, JM, XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA / HAITI / CARICOM: RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

REF: KINGSTON 46 (132049Z JAN 10)(NOTAL); STATE 4208 (150608Z JAN 10)

Summary

-- Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding has offered Jamaica to PM Rene
Preval for use as a logistics center to provide warehousing and
aircraft refueling for countries wishing to bring in relief
supplies to Haiti.

-- The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has reiterated its planned
deployment of 150 personnel to Haiti and its request for USG
financial assistance in this effort (reftel A and diplomatic note
paragraph 5).

-- CARICOM is expected to make an announcement at a noon press
briefing on January 15 regarding its response. PM Golding
reportedly will host a meeting of a number of Caribbean leaders on
the morning of January 16 in Kingston for further coordination of
CARICOM's assistance efforts, which are expected to focus on
medical support. End Summary.

PM's Visit to Port-au-Prince


2. PM Bruce Golding, accompanied by Information Minister Daryl
Vaz, Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson-Miller, and members of
the Government of Jamaica (GoJ)'s Office of Disaster Preparedness
and Emergency Management (ODPEM),visited Port-au-Prince via
chartered aircraft on the afternoon of January 14. The group met
with Haitian PM Rene Preval and with UN officials. Golding
reportedly offered Jamaica to Preval as a logistics center that
would provide warehousing for other countries wishing to bring in
relief supplies.

CARICOM


3. CARICOM Chairman PM Roosevelt Skerrit, General Secretary Edwin
Carrington, Barbados PM David Thompson and other CARICOM officials
met in Kingston on the evening of January 14 to discuss CARICOM's
response to the disaster in Haiti. CARICOM is expected to make an
announcement on January 15 regarding its response, which is
expected to focus on medical support. PM Golding reportedly will
host a meeting of a number of Caribbean leaders on the morning of
January 16 in Kingston for further coordination of CARICOM's
assistance efforts. According to Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr. Kenneth Baugh,
Jamaica has been chosen as a regional hub for the relief effort and
will serve as a refueling point for aircraft taking relief supplies
and personnel to Haiti. The GoJ will waive navigational and
landing fees for such aircraft. Warehouse facilities for sorting
and temporary storage of relief items are to be made available at
the international airports in Kingston and in Montego Bay, and the
GoJ has offered the use of Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios on Jamaica's
northern coast. (Note: Post understands that at least one Chinese
aircraft already has transited and refueled at Kingston airport.
End Note.)

Jamaican Deployment


4. Post understands that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) began its
deployment the morning of January 15. JDF reports that it deployed
fifty-five (55) personnel along with ten (10) personnel from the
Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). The primary mission for this force is
search and rescue. Air Jamaica provided the transportation for
this unit. JDF anticipates sending a similar force on January 16.
JDF has informally requested a U.S. airframe (C-130 or C-17) to
transport two of its wheeled vehicles. USMLO Kingston is
developing this requirement; point-of-contact is LTC Robert Wagner,
876-702-6073 (IVG 929-6073),e-mails
Robert.Wagner@tcsc.southcom.mil or wagnerra@state.gov. JDF-Coast
Guard also has a patrol boat with supplies operating in the
vicinity of Port-au-Prince (exact disposition unknown).




5. Post has received a facsimile copy of the following diplomatic
note from the Government of Jamaica (GoJ)'s Ministry of Foreign

Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),dated January 13:

(begin text of MFAFT diplomatic note dated January 13)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade presents it
compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has
the honour to refer to the devastating earthquake which hit the
Republic of Haiti yesterday afternoon.

The Ministry wishes to advise that the Government of Jamaica is
coordinating an emergency relief for Haiti and in this regard the
immediate response will be the immediate dispatch of a contingent
comprising one hundred and fifty (150) Jamaica Defense Force
Personnel to Haiti tonight. This contingent will be supporting
search and rescue action as well as the restoration of military
services. The Ministry of National Security has advised that the
initial deployment and two (2) week's maintenance costs are
estimated at Twelve Million Jamaican Dollars. However, current
financial constraints have impeded the sourcing of those funds from
the public budget. In light of this situation, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is appealing for financial
support for this effort to render immediate disaster relief
assistance to the Government and people of Haiti.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade would appreciate
the earliest possible response to this appeal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United
States of America the assurances of its highest consideration.

(end text of MFAFT diplomatic note dated January 13)

Preparation for Haitians Fleeing Disaster


6. The GoJ has begun coastal surveillance in the waters off the
parishes of St. Mary's and Portland on Jamaica's northeastern coast
for Haitians fleeing the disaster. A statement issued by the GoJ
indicates that "preparations have been put in place to receive,
screen and treat such persons." Ministry of National Security
Permanent Secretary Major Richard Reese has stated that, in
coordination with the Jamaica Red Cross Society, a facility has
been identified to house Haitians likely to seek refuge here (he
declined to disclose the location).
Parnell