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DE RUEHWN #0554/01 0891240
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FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0626
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
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RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL OFDP UK VC XL
SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT:  A VIOLENT DEATH AND A DIPLOMAT'S 
DEPARTURE ALTER THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE 
 
REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 425 
     ¶B. 05 BRIDGETOWN 1420 
     ¶C. 05 BRIDGETOWN 935 
 
Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  The recent death of the top aide to St. 
Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, 
together with the departure of a British diplomat who was 
among the PM's closest friends, has significantly changed the 
political landscape of this small country.  The tragic murder 
in March of Press Secretary Glenn Jackson has deprived the 
Government of a key figure who counseled the PM on a variety 
of issues and was Post's best contact in St. Vincent. 
Similarly, the recent departure of the Resident British 
Commissioner has meant the loss of a close friend of the PM 
who provided Post with excellent insight into this regional 
leader.  The role these two individuals played in St. 
Vincent's political establishment is indicative of the small 
island-states of the Eastern Caribbean and also instructive 
of the situation faced by Post in developing meaningful 
contacts in order to report to the Department on regional 
issues.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------- 
Murder of the PM's Top Aide 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The brutal murder of the top aide to Prime Minister 
Ralph Gonsalves has left the Government of St. Vincent and 
the ruling Unity Labor Party (ULP) bereft of one of its 
leading figures.  Glenn Jackson, who served as Government 
Press Secretary and Personal Aide to the PM, was among 
Gonsalves's closest confidants, attending all Cabinet 
meetings and weighing in on important policy issues.  He was 
also a key figure in the ruling ULP, helping the party defeat 
the long-governing New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2001 and win 
re-election in 2005.  Jackson's body was found near his home 
in the capital, Kingstown, on March 6 (ref A).  According to 
press reports, he died of a gunshot wound.  Police have yet 
to identify a suspect or motive for the murder. 
 
-------------------------- 
Journalist and Provocateur 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Glenn Jackson was a divisive figure in St. Vincent, 
leading to speculation that his murder may not have been a 
random crime.  A journalist by profession, Jackson rose to 
prominence in the 1990s as host of St. Vincent's first talk 
radio program.  This platform allowed Jackson to use his 
eloquence and passion to turn out hundreds of people for 
public demonstrations against what he saw as a variety of 
ills that plagued St. Vincent.  Among these was a protest 
against the USG for its support of ending preferential trade 
quotas for Caribbean bananas.  Similar demonstrations 
initiated by Jackson were directed against then Prime 
Minister James Mitchell and the ruling NDP, contributing to a 
political crisis that culminated in the 2001 elections that 
brought the opposition ULP and Ralph Gonsalves to power. 
Jackson followed Gonsalves into Government while continuing 
his role as radio host-provocateur, drawing the ire of many 
who believe he contributed negatively to the nation's 
hothouse political climate (refs B and C). 
 
------------------------------ 
A Small Clique Close to the PM 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) In Government, Glenn Jackson established himself as 
one of PM Gonsalves's most trusted associates and was given 
the official title Personal Aide in addition to Press 
Secretary.  Jackson was among a handful of people that were 
 
SIPDIS 
close to Gonsalves in a Government full of political 
appointees and bureaucrats of questionable ability.  This 
common quality of governments in the Eastern Caribbean has 
the effect of making already small governing institutions 
even smaller, so that decision-making and access to 
information are often concentrated in a small clique close to 
the prime minister.  In St. Vincent, PM Gonsalves has taken 
this tendency to an extreme and nearly all Government 
initiatives are run directly from his office.  As the PM's 
top aide, Glenn Jackson was, therefore, exceptionally 
knowledgeable.  Post was particularly fortunate to identify 
Jackson's value and cultivate a relationship that made him 
our most important contact. 
 
 
----------------------------- 
British Diplomat the PM's Pal 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Resident British Commissioner Terry Knight was another 
person close to Ralph Gonsalves who, by virtue of his 
unfettered access, could provide Post with valuable 
information regarding the PM and Vincentian politics.  St. 
Vincent is a rather parochial place for a cosmopolitan figure 
such as Gonsalves, who appreciated socializing with the 
engaging British diplomat.  Their relationship was furthered 
by the especially close bond that developed between Knight's 
and Gonsalves's Trinidadian-born spouses.  Numerous family 
outings and weekend barbecues led to many candid discussions 
that offered Knight unique insight into what makes Gonsalves 
tick.  Emboffs meeting with the British diplomat were treated 
to recitations of what "Ralph said" on all manner of issues, 
which added to our understanding of the mercurial Gonsalves 
and his often contentious role in Caribbean politics. 
 
--------------------------- 
U.K.'s Caribbean Downsizing 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Terry Knight proved himself to be one of Post's most 
valuable contacts in St. Vincent.  While his personal 
relationship with Ralph Gonsalves made this situation 
exceptional, the Resident British Commissioners posted to the 
other islands in the Eastern Caribbean have also proved to be 
invaluable by virtue of both their knowledge of the countries 
in which they live and unfailing collegiality. 
Unfortunately, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
permanently removed their Resident Commissioners from St. 
Vincent and Grenada in December 2005 as part of a downsizing 
of staff.  Currently, the U.K. has diplomats posted only to 
Antigua and St. Lucia in addition to the High Commission in 
Barbados.  (Note:  Terry Knight's new position is Resident 
Commissioner in Antigua, where it is unlikely, however, that 
he will become as close to Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer as 
he did to Ralph Gonsalves.  End note.) 
 
------------------------------- 
The Trouble With Island Hopping 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Comment:  While all reporting officers face the 
problems inherent in developing and maintaining contacts, the 
challenge is particularly acute in the Eastern Caribbean 
where Emboffs working out of Barbados can travel only 
infrequently to the other islands they cover.  As a result, 
it can be difficult to identify and cultivate key contacts 
without regular interaction with members of the political 
establishment.  Considering, however, the small size of the 
countries in the region, Emboffs can typically gather enough 
information during periodic visits to meet the Department's 
needs.  In St. Vincent, in which interest is heightened 
because of Ralph Gonsalves's role as a perennial thorn in 
Washington's side and best friend of Cuba and Venezuela, Post 
was particularly fortunate to have among its contacts two 
individuals who could provide valuable insight on the PM and 
his small island-state.  The departure of diplomat Terry 
Knight and aide Glenn Jackson's tragic death were setbacks 
that Post will overcome as we strive to continue producing 
quality reporting.  End comment. 
KRAMER