VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #1343 1882023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 072023Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3170
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1128
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 7378
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0429
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 2500
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 2989
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 5108
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 5701
RUEOMFO/DIRJIATF SOUTH J2
RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001343 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP (BOZZOLO),INL/RM/MS (HENDERSON) AND 
WHA/CAR (BENT) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SNAR JM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR JOHNSON HANDS OVER KEYS TO REFURBISHED 
SEA ARK VESSEL 
 
 
¶1.  During a widely publicized ceremony at Jamaica's Coast 
Guard base in Port Royal on July 6, U.S. Ambassador Brenda 
Johnson formally presented the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) 
with the keys to a refurbished Sea Ark Dauntless Class vessel 
recently refitted/refurbished using NAS/INL funds.  JDF Chief 
of Staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, received the keys from 
the Ambassador.  He, in turn, presented them to JDF/CG 
Commander Sidney Innis. 
 
¶2.  In her remarks, Ambassador Johnson stated that this was 
the first of two 40-foot Sea Ark vessels being refurbished by 
the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) at a total cost of 
$670,000. She expressed the expectation that, with the 
addition of these two vessels, the JDF Coast Guard will gain 
increased control over Jamaica's territorial waters. The 
Ambassador also noted that, in the past two years, NAS 
provided $133,000, which was used to help establish the CG 
station in Black River, to refurbish a coastal interceptor, 
to purchase spare parts and general equipment for the Coast 
Guard, as well as to contribute to efforts of other USG 
entities to establish a Coast Guard presence in Pedro Cays. 
 
¶3.  Admiral Lewin and Commander Innes praised the 
long-standing and productive relationship between the Embassy 
and JDF/CG. The Admiral (formerly the CG Commander) pointed 
out that four Sea Arks were originally provided by the USG 
many years ago and had proved to be the sturdy workhorses of 
the CG fleet.  At times, they were the only operable boats 
available for CG operations.  CG personnel had developed deep 
respect for their capabilities.  He said the refitted vessels 
have many years of life ahead of them.  He expressed the hope 
that NAS would consider refurbishing the remaining two 
vessels. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the boat was 
blessed and the Ambassador climbed aboard for an inspection. 
 
 
¶4.  Comment: NAS support for the JDF/Coast Guard aims to 
improve GOJ maritime interdiction capabilities. The Sea Arks 
will be deployed to stations around the island in order to 
improve the CG's response time capability.  Currently there 
are six stations.  We will look into the possibility of 
funding the refitting of a third vessel.  But, we also need 
to see whether the Coast Guard can adapt its resources to 
changing methods used by drug traffickers. In conversations 
following the ceremony the Ambassador learned that 
construction at the Pedro Cays site has stopped due to what 
appears to be an impasse between the contractor and SOUTHCOM. 
The Ambassador is looking into the problem.  End comment. 
JOHNSON 
 
 
 
 
JOHNSON