VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0318/01 0521250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211250Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1920

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000318 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/IP 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC BB XL
SUBJECT: QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT FOR EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 
AND THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN - OCT/NOV/DEC 2005 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION: 
       ---------------------------------- 
 
AMERICAN EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN located on Barbados is 
comprised of 8 resident agencies housed in four 
separate facilities; the Chancery, the Admin Annex, the 
Consular building and the warehouse. Construction on 
the New Embassy Compound (NEC) is approximately 70 
percent complete.  Move-in is planned for second half 
of CY-2006.  DS/OBO transition and de-certification 
teams have yet to visit Post. 
 
- EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN is staffed with 66 U.S. direct- 
hire (USDH), 2 U.S. PSC, 11 U.S. EFM/PIT, 6 U.S. WAE, 
103 FSN/PSA/PSC, and 5 FSN/WAE employees. 
 
- USAID SATELLITE OFFICE is staffed with 2 USDH, 3 
USPSC, 1 TCN, and 6 FSN/PSA USAID employees. 
 
- OBO NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND (NEC) is staffed with 2 
USDH's, 1 USPSC, and 4 FSN employees.  A complement of 
Cleared American Guards (CAGs) and Cleared Security 
Technicians (CST) work on the NEC compound and are 
housed locally in leased accommodations. 
 
CHIEF OF MISSION (COM) responsibility extends to seven 
(7) independent nations of the Eastern Caribbean 
including: 
 
-- Antigua and Barbuda 
-- Barbados 
-- Dominica 
-- Grenada 
-- St. Kitts and Nevis 
-- St. Lucia 
-- St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
CONSUL GENERAL (CG), Bridgetown provides consular 
services for the nations listed above as well as the 
following ten (10) dependent territories: 
 
-- British Virgin Islands (UK Territory) 
-- Montserrat (UK Territory) 
-- Anguilla (UK Territory) 
-- Martinique (FR Territory) 
-- Guadeloupe (FR Territory) 
-- St. Martin (FR Territory) 
-- St. Barthelemy (FR Territory) 
-- St. Maarten (NE Territory) (Visa issues only) 
-- Saba (NE Territory) (Visa issues only) 
-- St. Eustatius (NE Territory) (Visa issues only) 
 
NOTE:  AmConsul Curacao has American Citizen Services 
(ACS) oversight for the three Dutch Islands of St. 
Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. 
 
Various elements of the Mission (USAID, OFDA, LEGATT, 
IRS, DEA, CONSULAR, RSO, ORA) have responsibilities 
extending to other independent nations and dependent 
territories of the broader Insular Caribbean. 
 
THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN 
--------------------- 
 
Outside Barbados, the Embassy has oversight 
responsibilities for Embassy Grenada, two Consular 
Agencies (Antigua and Martinique), the U.S. Peace Corps 
(Headquartered in St. Lucia).  Although the 
preponderance of USG employees under the authority of 
the COM resides on Barbados and Grenada, there are: 
 
-- 101 Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) serving throughout 
the region; 
 
-- Over 2000 American citizen (AmCit) students 
attending universities on St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, 
Dominica, St. Maarten, Saba and Aruba (Netherlands 
Antilles), Curacao, and St. Lucia; 
 
-- Approximately 25,000 AmCits resident in the Consular 
district; and, 
 
-- Approximately 5,000 to 10,000 AmCit passengers 
traveling daily on cruise ships in Post's 150,000 
square mile area of responsibility (AOR). 
 
AMERICAN EMBASSY GRENADA is comprised of 1 USDH 
 
Principal Officer, five FSN/PSA/PSC employees, and a 
local guard force numbering six. 
 
PEACE CORPS OFFICE on St. Lucia is comprised of thirty 
(34) Peace Corps employees; two (2) U.S. direct hires, 
seven (8) Peace Corps Foreign Nationals (FSN), and 
twenty-three (23) personal service contract (PSC) 
personnel stationed regionally.  There are 101 Peace 
Corps Volunteers (PCVs) serving in the Eastern 
Caribbean.  There are volunteers on each Island Nation 
in Bridgetown's AOR except Barbados.  The 101 total is 
broken down per island as follows: 
 
Antigua - 13 
Dominica - 20 
Grenada - 14 
St. Kitts & Nevis - 12 
St. Lucia - 19 
St. Vincent - 23 
 
EMBASSY BRIDGETOWN employees and their families in 
Barbados are housed in approximately 60 residential 
units spread across five Parishes.  Forty-five (45) USG 
STL residences require upgrades to be in 100 percent 
compliance with Department residential security and 
fire and life-safety standards. 
 
-- USDOD, Southern Command, has operational oversight 
for the U.S. Air Station, a satellite tracking station 
on Antigua.  Two U.S. DOD uniformed personnel, 
approximately 72 DOD contract civilian employees, and 
90 LES working at the U.S. Air Station on Antigua; An 
MOU for security oversight is being reviewed by the 
Department and DOD.  This MOU recommends security 
responsibility be maintained by the USDOD, Southern 
Command. 
 
¶A. ROUTINE ACTIVITIES 
   ------------------ 
 
RSO/ARSO Bridgetown attends weekly country team, core 
country team, RSO staff meetings, and MSG guard 
schools.  RSO, ARSO and RSO OMS meet weekly.  RSO meets 
weekly with the DCM and attends a weekly meeting with 
the Management Officer and his staff.  Further, RSO 
meets daily with the FSNIs, the MSG Detachment 
Commander, and the Senior SD Shift Supervisor.  RSO 
meets weekly with the local guard force manager unless 
operations require more frequent contact.  Post 
conducts weekly emergency radio checks. 
 
During the months October-December 2005, RSO operations 
provided the following: ARSO provided 22 security 
briefings, the Residential Security Coordinator 
conducted 4 residential security assessments and 
installed 1 residential security alarm systems, and 
provided 3 security alarm briefings; FSNIs provided 2 
briefings to new LES, and RSO OMS and staff assisted 
DHS/BTS/ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) with 
52 deportations. RSO OMS issued 6 badges. 
 
DS/IP/WHA authorized a TDY RSO/OMS for this reporting 
quarter. 
 
 
¶B. DHS/BTS/ICE - Department of HOMELAND SECURITY, 
   IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (BICE) 
   --------------------------------------------- - 
 
During the months Oct/Nov/Dec 2005, RSO staff provided 
assistance to DHS/BTS/ICE Deportation Program with 52 
deportations to the Eastern Caribbean.  The DHS/BTS/ICE 
representative for Post is DHS Customs Representative 
Joel Mahabir who is officed in Miami and supervised by 
DHS Caribbean Attache, Mike Looney. 
 
DHS/BTS/ICE relies on RSO staff to provide, for each 
deportation to the Eastern Caribbean, a country 
clearance cable to DHS/BTS/ICE, letters and memorandums 
faxed to the Police and Immigration Departments at the 
destination and to DHS/BTS/ICE, and in some cases, 
hotel reservations and travel coordination for their 
escort personnel.  DHS/BTS/ICE does not reimburse the 
Department of State (DOS) for paper supplies, telephone 
tolls, fax supplies, and salaries and overtime. 
 
In December 2005, RSO calculated reimbursement cost at 
US $5,000 per year.  RSO requested DSS communicate the 
reimbursement proposal with DHS/DRO.  To date, the 
 
reimbursement request is pending DSS and DHS action. 
 
¶2. Narrative Overview of Activities: 
   -------------------------------- 
 
¶A. (U) Monthly Activities: 
       ------------------ 
 
October 2005 
---------- 
10/15 - RSO arrived at post 
10/20 - Post conducted destruction drill 
10/20 - RSO met with Ambassador 
10/21 - RSO attended newcomer's luncheon 
10/21 - RSO provided out-briefing for ATA candidates 
10/25 - RSO conducted counseling session with ARSO 
10/26 - RSO met with DCM 
10/26 - RSO met with local guard project manager 
10/27 - RSO, GSO & PM discussed contract deficiencies 
10/31 - RSO met with guard company VP 
 
November 2005 
-------- 
11/02 - RSO attended local guard meeting w/company 
Pres. 
11/02 - RSO attended NEC transition meeting 
11/09 - RSO attended NEC transition meeting 
11/14 - RSO participated in FSI sponsored CME 
11/14 - RSO assisted SEO team 
11/14 - Post conducted a destruction drill 
11/15 - RSO participated in an FSI sponsored CME 
11/16 - RSO and GSO discussed decommissioning plan 
11/16 - RSO participated in a housing board meeting 
11/16 - RSO met with local guard company VP 
11/21 - RSO/GSO met with armor car reps. Re: relocation 
11/22 - RSO met Peace Corps regional director 
11/23 - RSO attended an Avian Flu working group meeting 
11/23 - RSO met with Canadian High Commission officials 
 
December 2005 
--------- 
12/01 - RSO met with local guard VP 
12/06 - RSO met with OSAC member re; port security 
12/07 - RSO implemented new radio call signs - Barbados 
12/08 - RSO OMS arrived at Post 
12/09 - RSO met with Princess to discuss port security 
12/15 - RSO met with SouthCom Commander 
12/15 - RSO attended NEC Parking Committee meeting 
12/16 - RSO attended Christmas party at CMR 
12/20 - RSO met with Grenada Police Commissioner 
 
¶B. SECURITY NOTICES 
 
10/20 - Missing American Citizen 
10/21 - Personal Protective Security Measures 
10/27 - Residential Alarm Instructions 
11/04 - Child Abduction Prevention 
12/07 - New Radio Call Signs 
 
¶C. (SBU) Mission Wide Emergency Action Drills: 
         ------------------------------------ 
 
CHANCERY 
-------- 
¶1. Fire:                 12/03/04 
¶2. Bomb:                 12/03/04 
¶3. Destruction:          11/14/05 
¶4. Internal Def:         12/18/03 
¶5. Duck and Cover:       03/29/05 
¶6. Warden Non-official:  09/10/04 
¶7. Warden Official:      09/10/04 
 
ADMIN ANNEX 
---------- 
¶1. Fire:                 12/03/04 
¶2. Bomb:                 12/03/04 
¶3. Duck and Cover:       03/29/05 
 
CONSULAR 
-------- 
¶1. Fire:                 10/28/03 
¶2. Bomb:                 12/18/03 
¶3. Duck and Cover:       09/15/04 
 
Embassy Grenada 
--------------- 
¶1. Fire:                  8/25/04 
¶2. Bomb:                  8/25/04 
¶3. E. Destruction:        8/25/04 
 
¶4. Duck and Cover:        3/22/05 
¶5. Warden Non-official:   9/05/04 
¶6. Warden Official:       7/14/05 
 
¶C. (U) Constituent Responsibilities: 
       ---------------------------- 
 
(1) EMBASSY GRENADA: 
 
December 20-21, 2005. 
 
--a. The RSO met with the Principal Officer and 
discussed general security matters for Grenada.  The 
RSO was introduced to Locally Employed Staff (LES) 
assigned to the embassy.  The RSO also conducted a walk- 
thru at the embassy and principal officer's residence. 
 
--b.  The RSO met with the Assistant Peace Corps 
Director for Grenada.  Peace Corps is planning to 
relocate to another building in Grenada.  RSO will 
provide security assistance for selecting a new site. 
 
--c.  The RSO met with and provided the following 
assistance to Saint George's University staff: 
 
--d.  RSO will research if excess drop-arm barriers at 
AmEmbassy Barbados can be donated to the University. 
 
--e.  RSO provided information about OSAC and how SGU 
can register. 
 
--f.  RSO provided contact information for local guard 
companies capable of providing local guard training. 
 
--g.  RSO provided identification badge vendor contact 
information.  SGU expressed interest in purchasing self- 
expiring badges to assist in access control. 
 
--h.  RSO provided a visitor access form template to 
assist in access control. 
 
--i.  RSO provided updated Avian Flu (AI) information 
and passed AmEmbassy contact information for AI 
emergency planning. 
 
--j.  The RSO met with the acting commissioner, Royal 
Grenada Police Force (RGPF), a member of the police 
Special Branch and the National Security Advisor. 
Issues discussed ranged from security for the 2007 
Cricket World Cup, police training opportunities and 
internal security threats (septel). 
 
--k  The FSNI provide local guard training including 
Itemiser, surveillance indicators, and basic search 
techniques for packages, persons and vehicles.  The 
FSNI also conducted background investigations and 
police liaison. 
 
--l.  The RSO is planning to return to Grenada on 
January 11-13, 2006 to provide the following security 
assistance: 
 
--m.  Conduct a comprehensive physical security survey 
for the embassy and principal officer's residence. 
 
--n.  Provide security assistance for Peace Corps' 
property relocation search. 
 
--o.  Provide a security briefing for Peace Corps 
volunteers assigned to Grenada during an in-country 
conference. 
 
--p.  Provide assistance to the US military Med Ready 
advance team.  A Med Ready operation for Grenada is 
scheduled for February 2006. 
 
--q.  Provide security assistance for Saint George's 
University security staff. 
 
--r.  Provide assistance for local guard training to be 
offered by the Bridgetown Surveillance Detection 
Coordinator (SDC).  The SDC will also train members of 
the RGPF to enhance police interdiction capabilities 
for the embassy. 
 
 
(2) PEACE CORPS OFFICE, ST. LUCIA: 
 
6/27-28 - No visit this quarter. 
 
 
(3) U.S. AIR STATION, ANTIGUA:  No visit this quarter. 
 
(4) U.S. CONSULAR AGENT ANTIGUA: No visit this quarter. 
 
(5) U.S. CONSULAR AGENT - MARTINIQUE: No visit this 
quarter. 
 
(6) ST KITTS AND NEVIS: No visit this quarter. 
 
(7) ST. VINCENT: No visit this quarter. 
 
(8) DOMINICA: No visit this quarter. 
 
 
¶D. (U) MSG Activities: 
    ----------------- 
 
(1) Date/Type of drills: 
 
10/28 - Internal defense 
11/28 - Intruder containment 
12/21 - Bomb drill 
12/24 - Bomb drill 
 
(2) Guard School Attendance:  Weekly on Wednesday, all 
hands in attendance. 
 
(3) Visits: 
 
- November 19 - Marine Ball, Lt. Col. Harrop III 
 
(4) TDY Requests:  N/A 
 
(5) Administrative Actions: N/A 
 
(6) Routine Transfers: 
 
- December 5, Sgt Patcsil transferred 
 
¶3. THREATS AND INCIDENTS: 
   --------------------- 
 
¶A. (U) Antigua and Barbuda:  Nothing to report this 
quarter. 
 
--See Bridgetown 2205, Senate President raped 
 
¶B. (U) Barbados: 
 
--05 Bridgetown 2177, Local press on CT capabilities 
--05 Bridgetown 2183, Bomb threat at local school 
--05 Bridgetown 2245, Possible visa fraud 
--05 Bridgetown 2246, Possible visa fraud 
--05 Bridgetown 2247, Burglary of USG residence 
--05 Bridgetown 2248, Theft of USG dependent property 
--05 Bridgetown 2348, Possession of Dynamite 
 
¶C. (U) Dominica:  Nothing to report this quarter. 
 
¶D. (U) Embassy Grenada: Nothing to report this quarter. 
 
¶E. (U) St. Kitts and Nevis: Nothing to report this 
quarter. 
 
¶F. (U) St. Lucia: Nothing to report this quarter. 
 
¶G. (U) St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Nothing to 
report this quarter. 
 
¶H. (U) Dependent Territories: Nothing to report this 
quarter. 
 
 
¶4. (U) DS INITIATED INVESTIGATIONS: 
   ------------------------------- 
 
¶A. Personnel Security Investigations: 
 
-             Opened     Closed    Pending  Overdue 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
PSS                8        21        8        5 
VF                 0         0        0        0 
PF                 0         0        1        0 
CIL                2         0        2        0 
PR                 0         0        0        0 
CI                 0         0        0        0 
PII                0         0        0        0 
 
¶B. Number of Cases Generated by Post: 
 
-             Opened     Closed   Pending   Overdue 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Post FSN/PSC        1          1       0         0 
OBO RFA's          12         12       0         0 
OA RFA's           50         50       0         0 
Host Gov RFAs       0          0       0         0 
 
(NOTE: RSO FSNI's support OBO Site Security Manager 
(SSM) by conducting local and regional police checks, 
FSN certification background investigations, and police 
liaison. (END NOTE) 
 
¶5. (U) ACTION REQUESTS NOT ANSWERED BY DS: N/A 
 
 
¶6. (U) SUMMARY OF SEPARATE REPORTS: 
   ------------------------------- 
 
¶A. EAC:             05 BRIDGETOWN 1354, 05/27 
   EAC:             05 Bridgetown 1476, 06/28 
 
¶B. CIWG:            05 BRIDGETOWN 0638, 03/10 
                    05 BRIDGETOWN 1169, 05/05 
 
¶C. EAP: 
-  Bridgetown:       04 BRIDGETOWN 2777, 12/14 
                     05 STATE 86164,     05/10 
-  Grenada:          05 BRIDGETOWN 0622, 03/08. 
 
- Last RST visits: 
 
-  Barbados:        4/1997. 
-  Grenada:         3/04, See 04 BRIDGETOWN 0289, 0419 
 
¶D. Physical Security Surveys: 
 
BARBADOS: 
- Chancery:         Pouched 2/25/02   Due: 02/25/05 
                                      ECD: 09/30/05 
- Admin Annex:      Pouched 9/06/01   Due: 09/06/04 
                                      ECD: 09/30/05 
- Consular Build:   Pouched 9/10/01   Due: 09/10/04 
                                      ECD: 09/30/05 
 
NOTE: On Barbados, Post plans to move into the New 
Embassy Compound (NEC) in the second half of CY 2006. 
DS/OBO transition and decommissioning teams will travel 
to Post next quarter to plan the transition and 
decommissioning of the Chancery, Annex and Consular 
buildings, and determine the disposition of DS-funded 
technical and physical security equipment.  END NOTE 
 
GRENADA: RSO traveled to Grenada from December 20-21 to 
conduct a physical security survey. 
 
- CHANCERY:                           ECD: 09/30/05 
 
¶E. Procedural: 
- Bridgetown:       Policy published      10/08/04 
- Grenada:          Policy published      11/04/04 
 
¶F. SPE Inventory:   05 BRIDGETOWN 1146,   06/23/05 
¶G. ACEQ:            05 BRIDGETOWN 0519,   02/28/05 
¶H. SEPQ:            05 BRIDGETOWN 0628,   03/09/05 
¶I. OSAC:            05 BRIDGETOWN 0439,   02/18/05 
 
KRAMER