VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #1216/01 1941853
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131853Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2909
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001216 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016 
TAGS: CASC ASEC PREL PGOV PINR SNAR KCRM ST XL
SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA - PM ON GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO COMBAT 
RISING CRIME 
 
REF: BRIDGETOWN 700 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Clyde Howard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  In a July 11 call on Ambassador Kramer, St. 
Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony pleaded for the USG to 
delay toughening the language on crime in the St. Lucia 
Consular Information Sheet (CIS) until after national 
elections.  To make his case, he highlighted his government's 
efforts to improve policing, including bringing in police 
officers from the UK.  The Ambassador and Consul General made 
it clear that the USG's obligation to American citizens 
requires us to report the rising crime against tourists, but 
that the Embassy would be happy to assist St. Lucia in 
improving policing and would be willing to revisit the CIS in 
the future to reflect improved performance by the St. Lucian 
police.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) In a July 11 meeting with Ambassador Kramer, St. 
Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony and Minister of Home 
Affairs and Internal Security Calixte George made their case 
for not changing the CIS to reflect rising crime in St. 
Lucia.  (Note:  In recent months, there has been a dramatic 
rise in crime targeting tourists in St. Lucia, including a 
particularly brazen rape and robbery against a European 
couple on a yacht anchored off the island (Ref A).  End 
Note.)  Anthony had heard rumors of an impending change and 
sought to delay it for six months.  Being direct about his 
intentions, he explained that a new travel advisory from the 
U.S. would hurt his chances in national elections, which he 
plans to call in two months.  (Note:  Under St. Lucia's 
constitution, Anthony must call elections by December 2006 at 
the latest.  End Note.)  He then launched into a detailed 
explanation of improvements to the justice system in St. 
Lucia. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Drug Supply Goes Down - Violence Goes Up 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Anthony began by admitting a rise in violent crime. 
He said there were 33 homicides in all of 2005 but there have 
been 21 so far in 2006.  The Prime Minister blamed much of 
the activity on improvements in drug interdiction, saying 
that as the supply of drugs coming up from Colombia and 
Venezuela has been reduced, the gangs have begun turning on 
each other.  He also held up the "serious problem of 
corruption in the police force" to explain their inability to 
successfully curb the violence.  Anthony also admitted his 
government has "no experience in gangs" and asked for DEA 
help in disrupting gang activity, citing the success of DEA 
and FBI programs targeting the heads of drug organizations in 
Jamaica and Trinidad. 
 
--------------------------- 
Efforts to Improve Policing 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) According to Anthony, the St. Lucia government has 
built several new police stations, is training 65 to 120 new 
police officers each year, forcing new recruits to undergo 
extensive vetting, launching a "scooter patrol" to police 
less accessible areas, and has established large rewards for 
turning in illegal firearms.  In addition, the country has 
asked for eight British police officers to take senior 
positions in the St. Lucia police force.  Anthony also listed 
several other initiatives, such as a new fingerprinting 
system, updated evidence act, wiretap legislation, and a new 
prison (opened two years ago) as evidence of his government's 
focus on fighting crime.  He also praised ongoing U.S., UK, 
and French (particularly from Martinique) law enforcement 
cooperation, as well as regional efforts such as Trinidad 
agreeing to extend its radar monitoring system (to detect 
drug boats) north to St. Lucia. 
 
------------------- 
But Problems Remain 
------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The Prime Minister acknowledged that, despite his 
government's investments in law enforcement, crime was on the 
rise.  He faulted a "serious problem of leadership in the 
police force" for the lack of results.  The PM cited evidence 
that the economy was improving (13 percent unemployment, the 
lowest level in 15 years) to counter domestic critics who 
have described the rise in crime as the result of a faltering 
economy.  Anthony seemed genuinely perplexed at the crime 
 
problem and said St. Lucia has made more efforts to fight 
crime than any other country in the region.  Anthony promised 
to have Minister George formally request FBI assistance in 
solving the three outstanding recent cases of crime against 
American citizens.  (Note:  LEGATT has offered assistance but 
needs a detailed formal request from the St. Lucians to take 
action.  End Note.) 
 
-------------------------- 
Private Security Necessary 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) According to the Prime Minister, while his government 
seeks to improve the performance of the police force, there 
is only so much they can do; the private sector must improve 
hotel security.  He offered to pay for a private security 
firm to conduct a full security audit of all hotel properties 
in St. Lucia and asked the Ambassador to suggest an American 
company qualified to conduct the audit.  (Note:  RSO will 
follow up on this request.  End Note.)  The Prime Minister 
revealed that, although he has met some resistance to the 
security audit idea from the hotel association on the island 
because of liability concerns, he plans to press ahead with 
or without their support. 
 
---------------- 
Embassy Response 
---------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Ambassador Kramer and Acting DCM/Consul General (CG) 
Howard responded to the Prime Minister's pleas by explaining 
the Embassy's duty to warn American citizens of rising crime 
in the Eastern Caribbean and reiterated that St. Lucia was 
not being singled out.  The CG shared a draft text of the new 
CIS language with Anthony, who called the text "harsh" and 
asked for it to be toned down.  The Ambassador and CG both 
emphasized that the primary problem is criminals targeting 
tourists, including American citizens.  The CG said that the 
Embassy needs to put out this new information, but could 
revisit the text in several months if there has been 
noticeable progress in fighting crime against tourists. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Despite the Prime Minister's entreaties, the Embassy 
cannot ignore the serious problem of crime against tourists 
in St. Lucia.  Post recommends using the CIS language 
previously submitted (currently in the clearance process in 
the Department).  According to law enforcement agencies at 
Post, rather than corruption, the main problem is that police 
are faced with new challenges to which they are seeking 
remedies.  To help support this process, the Embassy plans to 
work closely with St. Lucian law enforcement and hotels to 
better protect American citizens on the island against crime. 
 As for the elections, the St. Lucian opposition and press 
have already bitterly attacked the Prime Minister over the 
lack of progress in fighting crime.  It seems highly unlikely 
that the new CIS will make or break his reelection prospects. 
KRAMER