VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #1236/01 1952145
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 142145Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2928
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1469
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 001236 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016 
TAGS: EAID ECON ETRD PGOV PREL PINR SC XL
SUBJECT: OECS 25TH ANNIVERSARY: PITY PARTY OF NINE 
 
REF: A. BRIDGETOWN 992 
     ¶B. BRIDGETOWN 797 
     ¶C. BRIDGETOWN 754 
     ¶D. BRIDGETOWN 553 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Mary Kramer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Leaders of the Organization of Eastern 
Caribbean States (OECS) met in St. Kitts June 21-23 to 
celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization's 
founding.  The event could have provided an opportunity for 
participants to extol the advances made since the signing of 
the Treaty of Basseterre in 1981, but was instead used to 
lament the region's limitations and reprimand more developed 
countries for their callousness toward the Eastern Caribbean. 
 The outgoing OECS Chairman, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, went out of his way to 
pillory the United States for "arrogant triumphalism," among 
other perceived failings.  A notable absence from the 
gathering was St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, who was 
receiving medical care in Cuba.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador Kramer and Poloff attended events marking 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the OECS in St. Kitts on June 
21, including the opening ceremony, trade fair, donor 
conference, and gala dinner.  Notable among the events was 
the signing of the Declaration of Intent to Form an Economic 
Union, a preliminary step in the further economic integration 
of the OECS, which is expected to become final with the 
signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre on July 1, 2007 
(ref D). 
 
¶3. (U) Representatives from the nine OECS member states 
(independent nations Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, 
St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines, and self-governing British overseas territories 
Anguilla, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands) met in 
St. Kitts June 21-23 for what could have been a 
forward-looking and celebratory event, but was instead 
characterized by excessive complaining.  With the notable 
exception of a trade fair that demonstrated the 
entrepreneurial potential of the Eastern Caribbean, events 
that should have highlighted the progress made since the 1981 
founding of the OECS, such as successful cooperation on a 
unified monetary system, were marred by numerous references 
to the poor economic position in which the region finds 
itself.  The blame was laid firmly at the feet of more 
developed countries and international donors. 
 
Opening Ceremony - Would You Like Whine With That? 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (U) In her opening remarks, Dr. Len Ishmael, Director 
General of the OECS, expressed her belief that Eastern 
Caribbean political and economic integration should be 
carried out by the current regional leaders who, because of 
their similar social and educational backgrounds, share a 
common Caribbean culture.  In contrast, the OECS Director is 
concerned that the next generation of regional leaders will 
have been influenced more by a globalized culture, thereby 
making them less likely to have a deep commitment to regional 
integration.  Ishmael,s remarks also reflected an "us vs. 
them" mentality common within the Eastern Caribbean 
sub-region when she referred to CARICOM as another regulatory 
group with which OECS states have bilateral and cooperative 
relations. 
 
¶5. (U) Typical of sentiments expressed during the OECS 
meeting were the remarks of St. Kitts and Nevis Prime 
Minister Denzil Douglas, who commented that the region was 
suffering from the "fallout of international incidents" such 
as the termination of sugar and banana subsidies and 
preferential trade agreements.  The PM said that the next 
step for the OECS was to sign its new economic union treaty 
that would forge closer trade ties; for this effort to 
succeed the region would need the support of its development 
partners (i.e., more money). 
 
Trade Fair 
---------- 
 
¶6. (U) The Trade Fair was the only event which showcased the 
potential of the region to move beyond its historical 
dependency on agriculture and tourism.  Approximately sixty 
business ventures from various islands were present, ranging 
from entertainment to textiles, building materials to gourmet 
foods and beverages, and pottery to skin care products.  To 
participate in the Trade Fair the companies had to have a 
business plan, proven capacity to meet demand and established 
quality controls.  The diversity of products, professional 
promotional materials and packaging, and unique design of 
similar products from different islands showed the 
entrepreneurial promise of the region. 
 
Comrade Ralph on a Roll 
----------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) An audible groan arose from various quarters as the 
garrulous outgoing OECS Chairman and PM of St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, announced that he was 
tossing out his prepared speech because "others had already 
touched on those topics."  Speaking extemporaneously, 
Gonsalves exhorted participants to remember 1981, when the 
original Treaty of Basseterre brought the OECS to life, and 
look at the progress made since then. 
 
¶8. (U) Gonsalves echoed a refrain commonly heard in the 
Caribbean when he lambasted the U.S. for displaying "arrogant 
triumphalism" since the end of the Cold War for having the 
attitude that small island people are insignificant, do not 
know what they are doing, and tend to "follow fashion" 
politically and economically.  He also condemned the British 
for having amnesia with regard to the region, noting that the 
only reason these small states entered the sugar and banana 
business was to support the British Empire.  Now these 
staunch supporters of the UK and U.S. have been tossed aside. 
 
 
¶9. (U) "Comrade Ralph," as he is affectionately referred to 
in St. Vincent, proceeded to rail against the developed world 
and the U.S. in particular for being selfish and arrogant in 
implementing disaster assistance for hurricane damage.  He 
blamed the same countries who provide meager assistance to 
counteract the effects of global warming for making climate 
change so much more devastating to small island states.  On a 
roll, Gonsalves pledged that the OECS would stand for 
principle against power and blasted the U.S. for increasing 
criminal behavior in the Caribbean, not by deporting 
criminals but by exporting "ghetto culture" through music, 
movies, and television. 
 
A Rational Voice Is Heard 
------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Incoming Chairman of the OECS and Prime Minister of 
Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer was more statesmanlike 
and conciliatory in his remarks than the other speakers, 
although he refrained from rebutting even their most 
outrageous claims.  The PM noted that political and economic 
integration would affect the relationships of OECS member 
states that were moving from inter-governmental to 
supranational relations.  Spencer attempted to allay the 
potential concerns of CARICOM counterparts present that OECS 
economic union might undermine the CARICOM Single Market and 
Economy (CSME), stating that it was still the intention of 
the Eastern Caribbean to participate fully in Caribbean-wide 
integration. 
 
Where is PM Anthony? 
------------------- 
 
¶11. (U) The absence of St. Lucia PM Kenny Anthony was noted, 
considering the significance of the OECS's twenty-fifth 
anniversary.  The PM was with his wife in Cuba where they 
both reportedly received medical treatment.  The PM, who is 
due to call an election later this year, attempted to keep 
his medical treatment a secret until rumors began circulating 
in St. Lucia and the Government had to release an official 
statement. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶12. (C) Sadly, the OECS's twenty-fifth anniversary appeared 
to be a missed opportunity:  rather than sharing a positive 
vision for the future, Eastern Caribbean leaders seemed 
intent on holding a pity party.  Although they represent the 
smallest states in CARICOM, the OECS group is better 
integrated than CARICOM as a whole.  OECS integration is 
proceeding, both within the sub-region and with the larger 
CARICOM group, but sensitivity over sovereignty issues, 
personality conflicts among leaders, and trade complaints 
among the island states will likely continue to slow the 
process. 
KRAMER