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Viewing cable 06GEORGETOWN40, CARICOM UPDATE--DRUGS, DISASTERS, ECONOMIC

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06GEORGETOWN40 2006-01-13 15:02 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Georgetown
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PREL SNAR ETRD EAGR GY CARICOM
SUBJECT: CARICOM UPDATE--DRUGS, DISASTERS, ECONOMIC 
INTEGRATION TOP AGENDA 
 
REF. A. PORT OF SPAIN 000039 
     B. 05 GEORGETOWN 001317 
 
1. SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick 
Manning, speaking as chairman of CARICOM, identified drug 
control, disaster preparedness, and deeper regional 
integration as key issues facing the organization. He also 
announced January 30 date for the signing ceremony for the 
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME).  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. In a January 10 press conference held at CARICOM 
Secretariat with President Jagdeo and CARICOM Secretary 
 
SIPDIS 
General Edwin Carrington, Manning identified the regional 
drug trade, and the corresponding influx of arms, as a 
security issue that will command CARICOM's agenda in the 
coming year. Manning also identified a need for greater 
cooperation among regional law enforcement officials. 
 
3. On the subject of natural disasters, Manning stated that 
disasters elsewhere in the world draw attention away from 
what some view as the "insignificant Caribbean". He urged 
the region to examine ways to protect itself against 
hurricanes such as those that have impacted Grenada, the 
Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize and Haiti in recent years. 
 
4. Issues of economic integration will also be front and 
center during Manning's tenure as chairman. Ref A reported 
Manning's condemnation of PetroCaribe and his warning that 
Trinidad may cease to export oil to PetroCaribe 
participants. Locally, at the opening of the 20th meeting of 
the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on 
January 12, Minister of Foreign Trade and International 
Cooperation, Clement Rohee formally recommended that the 
CARICOM Secretariat make a proposal to COTED for member 
states to be compensated as a result of breaches in the 
rules governing the suspension of the Common External Tariff 
(CET).  A GOG press release reported that Guyana may take 
alleged breaches of the CARICOM's Common External Tariff on 
rice to the Caribbean Court of Justice.  A COTED working 
document reportedly cites Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, 
Belize, Jamaica and Grenada for failing to provide import 
data on rice for January to June 2005 and includes numerous 
instances of failure to apply the CET to rice imports from 
the U.S.  As the region's largest rice producer, Guyana ahs 
long advocated greater enforcement of the CET. 
 
5. Manning also announced a June 30 signing ceremony in 
Jamaica for the Caribbean Single Market Economy. This 
appears to be a slippage from the January 23 date given by 
Secretary General Edwin Carrington at a press conference in 
 
SIPDIS 
December (reftel B). This may be due to the failure of 
members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 
(OECS), to join by December 31, 2005 as anticipated. The 
OECS members--Anitigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent, Dominica, 
Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia--are reportedly 
concerned about trade concessions on commodities such as 
wheat flour and beer under Article 56 of the revised CARICOM 
treaty and the establishment of a regional development fund. 
President Jagdeo also urged OECS states to sign on to the 
treaty. 
 
BULLEN