VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0060/01 0151657
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151655Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0546
INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0006
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE IMMEDIATE
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE

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