VZCZCXRO1839
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #1833/01 2901521
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171521Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3526
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1525
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRIDGETOWN 001833 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR-COLLINS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL PINR CASC ELAB OPIC EAGR KIDE
AC, XL 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER BEGINS FAREWELL TOUR:  ST. KITTS 
AND NEVIS 
 
REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 1315 
 
     ¶B. CMC NEWS RELEASE 9/13/06 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  During her September 18-20 visit to St. 
Kitts, Ambassador Kramer began the first in a series of 
farewell meetings with the Prime Ministers and Governors 
General of the seven island-nations to which she is 
accredited.  On September 18 she met with St. Kitts and Nevis 
Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, and on September 20 
with Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and Foreign Minister 
Timothy Harris.  END SUMMARY. 
 
GOVERNOR GENERAL SEBASTIAN 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On September 18 Ambassador Kramer met with St. Kitts 
Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian in the first of 
several farewell meetings to take place over the coming 
weeks.  The Ambassador was accompanied by PolOff as notetaker 
during the short but cordial meeting.  Ambassador Kramer 
began by expressing appreciation to the Governor General for 
his role in enhancing the relationship between St. Kitts and 
the United States, highlighting cooperation in law 
enforcement, education, and regional integration, especially 
with regard to the recently established tsunami warning 
system.  She also praised the government for the success of 
the U.S.-administered Ross University School of Veterinary 
Medicine and the International University of Nursing, 
encouraging the utilization of students and graduates in 
future development plans. 
 
¶3.  (U) The Governor General expressed his belief that the 
relationship between the U.S. and St. Kitts is healthy.  He 
noted that St. Kitts' efforts to develop a "proper tourism 
industry," since transferring resources out of the failing 
sugar industry in 2005, had shown promising results. 
Sebastian remarked that the Marriott Resort had increased 
tourism revenue for the twin island nation by 30 percent in 
its first year, beginning with the 2003-2004 tourism season. 
Sebastian also introduced GOSKN plans to diversify its 
agricultural lands to produce "row crops" to market to cruise 
ships, and designate land to develop a meat (beef) industry. 
The Governor General also pointed out GOSKN's continued focus 
on improving health care, noting that anti-retroviral drugs 
for treating HIV/AIDS were provided more affordably in St. 
Kitts than in other Eastern Caribbean countries due to the 
efforts of the Clinton Foundation's HIV/AIDS Initiative. 
 
¶4.  (U) Finally, when asked about preparations for Cricket 
World Cup (CWC) 2007, the Governor General stated that St. 
Kitts was "ahead of the curve."  The new stadium, which will 
host 4 CWC matches, is complete and was already used for 
international test matches in June 2006.  He did not address 
security matters but opined that transportation between the 
airport, hotels, and stadium would not be a problem. 
(COMMENT:  Transportation issues are likely to arise due to 
the small size of the country's airport, as well as the poor 
condition of the roads and the limited number of vehicles 
available for hire.  End comment.) 
 
PRIME MINISTER DOUGLAS 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  On September 20 Ambassador Kramer met with St. 
Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas.  PAO Julie 
O'Reagan, Peace Corps Country Director Kate Raftery, and 
PolOff (notetaker) accompanied the Ambassador.  The meeting 
started off on a very high note, with the Ambassador 
informing PM Douglas of an additional allocation of 144 
thousand USD for the St. Kitts Defence Forces, and the 
signing of the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the 
Florida National Guard and the Regional Security System 
(RSS).  Douglas was quite pleased to receive this news, as 
Independence Day events had been marred by a police "sick 
out" on September 19.  The PM lamented that because of the 
"sick out" there had been no police brigade in the 
Independence Day parade on Nevis.  He further informed his 
American visitors that not a single recruit for the security 
forces had come forward from the federation's sister island 
of Nevis in seven years.  Douglas also complained that since 
tourism and the financial services sector were more developed 
on Nevis, and therefore more profitable, that employment in 
those industries were more desirable to youth than public 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00001833  002 OF 003 
 
 
sector jobs.  He noted that to fill the gap the GOSKN had 
begun recruiting new officers from St. Vincent and Guyana. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) COMMENT:  In addition to standard complaints of 
poor conditions in police stations, the lack of interest in 
becoming a law-enforcement officer may also be a result of 
the contentious relationship between the federal government 
on St. Kitts and former Premier of Nevis Vance Amory.  Nevis 
elected a new Premier, Joseph W. Parry, on July 10, 2006. 
Parry's Nevis Reformation Party is more closely aligned with 
the ruling St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, so relations 
between the two may improve demonstrably in the short term. 
End comment. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) When asked by Ambassador Kramer how well prepared 
he thought St. Kitts and the region were for Cricket World 
Cup (CWC), Douglas relayed that all parties had agreed at the 
Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting in July to share 
security forces to cover countries when and where matches 
were being held, and stated that the relevant Foreign 
Ministers would be meeting October 17 in St. Kitts to "work 
out the kinks."  He also mentioned the previously sought 
swipe card as an entrance/security measure.  (Note:  Douglas 
seems to be under the impression that the swipe card program 
is still in the works.  The plans for this program were 
scrapped in favor of initiating the more tenable Advance 
Passenger Information System (APIS) program in the time 
allotted (ref A).  End note.) 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Ambassador Kramer praised the PM for his assistance 
in moving along the Heath/Matthews extradition case, finally 
extracting this "thorn" from the U.S./St. Kitts relationship. 
 Douglas mentioned his relief that the matter was over as 
well.  He stated that his biggest current concerns were 
security and agricultural diversification.  Douglas noted 
that local farmers need training in commercial farming 
management to transition to independent vs. state-run 
farming.  Ambassador Kramer then suggested the PM consider 
using the resources and knowledge of the 13 newly arrived 
PCVs and Marriott Hotel staff who have experience with 
commercial farming.  (NOTE:  The Marriott,s new Food and 
Beverage/Marketing Manager Kevin Doty expressed interest in 
working with local farmers and co-operatives to identify a 
limited range of products, in specific quantities and 
qualities, which could be used by the hotel.  End note.) 
 
¶9.  (SBU) When asked about a recently announced election 
reform program, Douglas noted that the GOSKN is in the 
"consultation" phase now.  He stated that GOSKN officials are 
conducting interviews with its citizens living abroad to 
determine how best to include them in the election process. 
The GOSKN is considering instituting an absentee ballot 
program, which would allow citizens living abroad to 
participate in elections. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Regarding the recent GOSKN acquisition of the 
Angelus Resort (ref. B), Douglas noted that the current 
manager of the resort, and one of many disputed shareholders, 
asked the government to step in and take over the property so 
that it could be resold with a clear title.  He stated that 
there had been allegations that the previous owner, Roland M. 
Thomas, sold shares to various parties as part of a 
money-laundering scheme in connection with an offshore 
banking operation.  When Thomas died, the investment scam 
came to light.  The decaying property is in a prime location, 
next to the St. Kitts Marriott, and Douglas mentioned that 
The Ritz-Carlton chain has expressed interest in the property 
and adjacent land equal to at least 24 acres.  (NOTE:  This 
does not appear to be an expropriation but post will continue 
to monitor the case.  End note.) 
 
ST. KITTS:  FOREIGN MINISTER 
---------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The meeting with St. Kitts Foreign Minister 
Timothy Harris was very brief, yet cordial.  The Ambassador 
expressed her gratitude for the FM's support and cooperation, 
and Minister Harris reciprocated the sentiment.  (RUMINT: 
When queried as to who would join him in attending the 
meeting with Secretary of State Rice on the margins of the UN 
General Assembly, Minister Harris noted that former Attorney 
General Delano Bart may be going along as he was being 
considered to replace Harris (NFI).  Former Director of 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00001833  003 OF 003 
 
 
Public Prosecutions Dennis Merchant replaced Bart as Attorney 
General on September 11, 2006.  Antigua Attorney General 
Justin Simon also commented in a meeting with Ambassador 
Kramer later that same day that Bart was retiring in order to 
expand his U.K.-based private practice throughout the Eastern 
Caribbean.) 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  As these meetings signaled the beginning of 
Ambassador Kramer's farewell to Barbados and the Eastern 
Caribbean, the tone was generally cordial and upbeat.  All 
parties focused on positive achievements over the past three 
years, with a look to continued good relations in the future. 
GILROY