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INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PORT OF SPAIN 000920 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DHS FOR SECRETARY CHERTOFF FROM CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EUGENE SWEENEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER OVIP ASEC CARICOM TD
SUBJECT:  SCENESETTER FOR DHS SECRETARY CHERTOFF'S VISIT TO T&T 
 
 
¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶2. (U) Secretary Chertoff, my team and I look forward to welcoming 
you to Trinidad and Tobago.  T&T is a major political and economic 
player in the region, and your visit will help underscore the 
importance we place on good relations with T&T and the wider 
Caribbean.  The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago holds the 
security portfolio within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).  Due 
to this fact, it is fitting that you meet with him and a 
representative grouping of the CARICOM Security Ministers here. 
This welcome cable will first provide a brief overview of the 
country, second look at potential topics that will be covered in 
your bilateral meeting and third, touch on some of the issues for 
your multilateral meeting. 
 
----------------------- 
T&T IN A (COCO)NUTSHELL 
----------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Caribbean twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago is 
slightly smaller than Delaware.  It is home to some 1.3 million 
people, primarily of African or East Indian descent.  These groups 
each make up approximately 40 percent of the population, with 
people of Chinese, Lebanese and European descent and those of 
mixed ethnicity making up the balance.  The government is based on 
the Westminster model, with a largely ceremonial President, an 
appointed Senate, and an elected House of Representatives.  The 
judiciary is independent.  The two major political parties are the 
Peoples National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress 
(UNC), which have alternated power, illustrating the strength of 
T&TQs democracy.  The parties are heavily, but not exclusively, 
based on ethnicity, with the PNM supported largely by Afro- 
Trinidadians and the UNC by Indo-Trinidadians. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In regional politics, it could be said that T&T is an 
opinion shaper.  Manning just completed a six-month tenure as 
Chairman of CARICOM, a period marked by a renewed emphasis on 
regional economic integration.  T&T receives high marks for its 
commitment to the needs of the smaller countries of the Eastern 
Caribbean.  Beyond CARICOM, T&T maintains correct but cool 
relations with Venezuela, largely due to differences of opinion 
over Petrocaribe and Chavez's regional aspirations.  T&T views 
Cuba as a Caribbean brother and maintains amicable ties.  Manning 
regularly goes to Cuba for medical attention. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The country has a vibrant industrialized economy.  In 
recent years, the government has reversed direction from the 
divestment and privatization decisions of the 1990s by creating 
more than a dozen new state enterprises and, at one point, 
resuming full control of the national airline (from which it is 
now extricating itself).  Trinidad and TobagoQs relative abundance 
of economic resources makes it a leader in the region.  T&T is 
considered a low-risk investment destination.  The T&T dollar 
remains stable in value against the U.S. dollar, contributing to 
the country's attractiveness to foreign investment.  The 
Government regularly courts foreign investors, with U.S. companies 
usually taking the lead. 
 
¶6.  (U) One of the primary USG interests in T&T is energy 
security:  the country provides approximately 75 percent of U.S. 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.  New fields are still being 
located and explored, including ones on the T&T/Venezuela maritime 
boundary.  Even as new gas discoveries are made, the government is 
focused on developing the countryQs gas-based downstream 
industries, specifically methanol, urea, and ammonia, in order to 
diversify the energy industry and ensure its long-term growth. 
ALCOA is in the planning process to build a large capacity 
aluminum smelter in the south of the country (with bauxite 
provided from Guyana and Jamaica).  T&T has permission from 
CARICOM to begin discussing a "partial-scope" free trade agreement 
with the United States that would provide duty-free entry for non- 
energy petroleum products, an indication of the country's long- 
term economic strategy. 
 
¶7.  (U) Many regional organizations are headquartered in Port of 
Spain, including the Association of Caribbean States, the 
Caribbean Epidemiological Center (CAREC) and the Caribbean Court 
of Justice.  The CARICOM security apparatus (the Implementation 
Agency for Crime and Security, or IMPACS) is located here, keeping 
with the T&T Prime Minister's security portfolio in the CARICOM 
quasi-Cabinet.  When the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas 
(FTAA) was under active discussion, Port of Spain lobbied to host 
the Secretariat; in fact, you can still see banners in the airport 
proclaiming "Port of SpainQThe Natural home of the FTAA." 
 
--------------------------------------- 
DRUGS, CRIME AND OTHER SECURITY THREATS 
 
PORT OF SP 00000920  002 OF 004 
 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The countryQs location just seven miles off the coast of 
Venezuela makes drug trafficking a major challenge.  Narcotics 
from South America transit Trinidad and TobagoQs waters or move 
through the airports.  Illegal drug use and trafficking are 
increasing and so are attendant societal ills.  The narcotics 
trade is likely linked to the ever-increasing number of murders 
and other violent crimes that plague the country.  The government 
faces an uphill battle in trying to control these problems, 
exacerbated by inadequate border controls, corruption in the 
police service and an inefficient judiciary.  Trinidad and 
TobagoQs vibrant petrochemical industry has the potential for 
precursor chemical diversion for use in illegal drug production. 
The countryQs growing economy, well developed banking sector, 
communications and transportation systems, facilitate a 
significant number of sizeable financial transactions that can 
obscure money laundering. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Rising violent crime has been one area of particular 
concern over the last several years.  T&T has seen significant 
increases in murders and kidnappings since 2000.  In 2005 there 
were 384 murders, the highest number recorded in any one year. 
2006 appears to be on track to exceed this number.  With the 
notable exception of kidnapping for ransom, which has decreased 
dramatically this year, the GOTT has been unable to effectively 
address rising crime, partially due to corrupt and inefficient 
police, inadequate disciplinary systems, an inefficient judiciary 
and political intransigence.  This, coupled with perceptions that 
some criminal organizations operate relatively freely, has led to 
a loss of confidence in the GOTTQs ability to solve the crime 
problem.  To date, this has not affected foreign direct investment 
or tourism, however several local business families have fled the 
country. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Embassy Port of Spain is engaged in a comprehensive 
anti-crime and counter narcotics strategy that aims to assist the 
T&T law enforcement agencies with narcotics detection and 
interdiction, equip the judiciary with the skills necessary to 
successfully prosecute crimes in an increasingly complex 
environment and train the financial sector in detecting and 
preventing money laundering and financial crimes and to provide 
youth with life skills and alternatives to crime.  Recent programs 
include anti-kidnapping courses provided by the FBI, assistance 
with drug interdiction and arrests of a major kidnapping ring and 
training for pilots engaged in aerial surveillance.  The TT Police 
have cited publicly such training programs and arrests as 
important components in the successful battle with kidnappers. 
Key players in implementing the EmbassyQs strategy include the 
State Department's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
program, a DHS Customs and Border Protection team, the Legal 
Attache, the Military Liaison Office (headed by a US Coast Guard 
Representative) and our DEA office. 
 
---------------- 
BILATERAL ISSUES 
---------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) In your meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning and 
Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, we anticipate that 
they will raise the following issues: 
 
-  Early Hurricane Warning Systems 
-  Maritime Security 
-  Criminal Deportees 
-  LNG/Petroleum Infrastructure Security 
-  Increased USCG/TT Coast Guard Exercises 
-  Continued Support for the OAS/CICTE Initiative to Provide 
Security for Tourism and Recreational Facilities 
-  Article 98 Exemptions 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Many of these issues fall squarely into your area of 
expertise, and we defer to you and your capable team on those 
issues.  CICTE is the counterterrorism committee of the 
Organization of American States, and the United States and 
Trinidad and Tobago have worked in close cooperation to ensure 
that CICTE is an effective organization.  Minister Joseph is the 
immediate past chair of CICTE, and committed himself to passing 
and implementing security provisions for tourism and recreational 
facilities.  We supported him then, and we continue to support 
this initiative. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Maritime Security and Joint Interdiction Exercises: 
T&T is deeply interested in improving its maritime security 
capabilities.  Largely, this would mean increasing patrol 
capability to interdict narcotics and other illicit materials 
while they remain off the coast.  T&T is seven miles off the coast 
of Venezuela, with a long coastline that includes a number of 
 
PORT OF SP 00000920  003 OF 004 
 
 
secluded bays and coves.  The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard 
generally works well with other law enforcement entities to pursue 
traffickers, but no agency has enough resources to effectively 
interdict all illicit items.  Further complicating the effort is 
the lack of a clear delineation of responsibilities; it is often 
unclear which agency is responsible for making an arrest when a 
boat enters the waters, then crosses into the river system and 
lands.  We understand that Manning will likely raise the question 
of increasing joint patrols and cooperation with the USCG and 
other agencies in order to improve the efficiency of the T&T 
interdiction agencies.  Manning is also likely to raise asking for 
USG assistance in expanding the range of the T&T Coast Guard to 
include several of the small island nations just to the north of 
T&T such as Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. 
Lucia. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Criminal Deportees:  This is an ongoing point of 
contention in the entire Caribbean.  The Caribbean countries claim 
that recent increases in crime rates can be attributed in good 
part to criminal deportees who return to their country of 
nationality after long absences.  They argue that these nationals 
are no longer well-integrated into the society, and might have 
stronger ties with the U.S. or Canada than their home island. 
Further, the Caribbean countries assert that once their nationals 
are placed in American prisons, they learn "more sophisticated 
criminal techniques" that they export to their home turf, meaning 
that law enforcement cannot keep up with their technological 
advances.  CARICOM countries have only anecdotal evidence to 
support these strongly felt and widely shared claims, but have 
commissioned studies to explore the issue.  PM Manning is 
especially interested in receiving advance notice of any criminal 
deportee to T&T.  Actually, ICE provides the T&T Embassy in 
Washington with three business days advance notice, per the 
memorandum of understanding on criminal deportees.  We suspect 
that by the time the Embassy informs the GOTT, the deportee is 
already en route. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) LNG/Petroleum Infrastructure Security:  T&T is well 
aware of its energy infrastructure vulnerabilities.  In fact, the 
country's facilities are relatively well protected, with the 
loading docks in the LNG complexes more secure than the commercial 
shipping ports, but ships full of LNG or other petroleum products 
present an attractive target of opportunity.  Manning will likely 
ask about possible assistance/advice in improving security in this 
area, as T&T provides approximately 75 percent of U.S. LNG 
imports. 
 
¶16.  (SBU) Article 98:  This is a more difficult issue due to T&T 
former President RobinsonQs key role in instituting the 
International Criminal Court (ICC).  T&T was one of the first ICC 
signatories, has not signed an Article 98 agreement with the U.S., 
and likely never will because of a perception that it would be 
seen as "undermining" the ICC.  In spite of this, T&T would like 
increased assistance that could help them take on narcotics or 
weapons traffickers and fight crime.  Manning is likely to broach 
the subject, looking for ways to work around Nethercutt 
restrictions (that is, how can they get similar assistance without 
signing an agreement). 
 
------------------------ 
MULTILATERAL PREPARATION 
------------------------ 
 
¶17. (SBU) Your multilateral meeting will be with the security 
ministers of the "CARICOM Bureau for Security," that is, T&T, 
Jamaica and Barbados (plus a representative from CARICOM, and 
likely one of the Eastern Caribbean States).  These three 
countries together form the core group for sub-head of government 
level security issues.  In addition to the hurricane early warning 
system and other regional issues mentioned above, the multilateral 
meeting is likely to include the following issues: 
 
-  Increased Security for the Eastern Caribbean 
-  Immigration Concerns with a Regional Witness Protection Program 
-  Port Security (with an emphasis on cruise ships and yachts) 
-  The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative 
-  Ongoing Cricket World Cup Security Assistance (that is, the 
APIS system and other training) 
 
¶18.  (SBU) On the witness protection program, CARICOM is 
interested in implementing a truly regional program, since each 
island population is small enough that it is nearly impossible to 
effectively create a completely new identity and life for 
witnesses.  CARICOM might bring up the issue of including the U.S. 
Caribbean territories in the system, but is cognizant of the 
immigration concerns. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) CARICOM is likely to inquire if there is any assistance 
 
PORT OF SP 00000920  004 OF 004 
 
 
available to the countries to helpimplement and facilitate the 
Western Hemisphere ravel Initiative (WHTI).  Many felt that the 
iniial Cricket World Cup package of a biometric smartard would 
be a "pilot program" for integrating the Caribbean into the WHTI. 
CARICOM on its own canot afford such a system, and had hoped for 
U.S. unding to help make it a reality.  Even if this spcific 
issue is not raised, CARICOM will likely iquire into the impacts 
of the WHTI on the tourism economies in the region. 
 
¶20.  (U) Again, my tea and I look forward to welcoming you to 
Port of pain.  This is a crucial visit, and we know that CRICOM 
and PM Manning will be pleased that you hae taken the time to 
travel to the far end of the Caribbean region to address mutual 
concerns. 
 
SWEENEY