VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #1811/01 2851952
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121952Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3496
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1520
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001811 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/OAS AND WHA/CAR-COLLINS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016 
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL PINR CASC ELAB OPIC KIDE AC XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KRAMER FAREWELL TOUR:  ANTIGUA AND 
BARBUDA 
 
REF: BRIDGETOWN 1706 
 
Classified By: CDA MARY ELLEN T. GILROY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  During a September 20 visit to Antigua and 
Barbuda, Ambassador Kramer met with Prime Minister Baldwin 
Spencer, continuing her series of farewell meetings with 
leaders of the seven island-nations to which she is 
accredited.  The Ambassador also met with Minister of 
Housing, Culture, and Social Transformation Hilson Baptiste 
to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the U.S. 
Geological Survey Seismic Warning Station.  Additional 
meetings the same day with Attorney General Justin Simon, 
Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell, and Amcits William Rogers 
and Natalia Querard are reported in full reftel.  End Summary. 
 
FAREWELL WITH PRIME MINISTER SPENCER 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (U) On September 20 Ambassador Kramer visited Antigua and 
Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer accompanied by PAO 
Julie O'Reagan, Amcit William D. Rogers and PolOff 
(notetaker).  GOAB Permanent Secretary Ambassador Colin 
Murdoch and GOAB Ambassador to the U.S. Deborah May Lovell 
(sister to Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell) accompanied PM 
Spencer.  The meeting was cordial and focused on positive 
developments and cooperation achieved over the past two and a 
half years. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ambassador Kramer was pleased to inform Prime 
Minister Spencer that the State Partnership Program (SPP) had 
been recently signed, whereby the Florida National Guard will 
partner with the Regional Security System (RSS) for Subject 
Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) in a variety of military and 
civilian governmental activities.  Spencer noted that his 
security officials had mentioned with some concern the 
possible reduction in funding to support the Antigua and 
Barbuda Defence Force.  The Ambassador acknowledged his 
concern, stating the she would have to check with the 
Military Liaison Office (MLO) to see if that was the case. 
(Note:  According to MLO, there is no reduction in funding 
scheduled.  However, because Antigua and Barbuda is 
delinquent in paying parking fines in the U.S., over USD 
17,000, this may affect the total amount disbursed.  End 
Note.) 
 
HALF MOON BAY INTERJECTION 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) William Rogers, former U.S. Assistant Secretary for 
Latin American Affairs, attorney/representative for Mrs. 
Natalia Querard, attended the meeting as well and gave 
Spencer a book written and personally inscribed by Henry 
Kissinger.  He also presented the PM with a copy of the draft 
MOU for resolution of the Half Moon Bay (HMB) resort 
expropriation.  He informed Spencer that Mrs. Querard needed 
title to the land in order to get the insurance money to 
begin refurbishing the resort, and noted that persuading her 
to agree to the document as written was not easy. 
 
¶5.  (C) Spencer queried whether Mrs. Querard was willing to 
sign the MOU and Rogers stated that she was.  (Note:  At a 
subsequent lunch meeting with the Ambassador, Mrs. Querard 
made it clear that Rogers would be the one to sign, not/not 
she.  End note.)  Spencer noted that he would await the 
recommendation of AG Simon after the meeting later in the day 
(reftel), and remarked that while the GOAB was pleased with 
recent developments, it had hoped to be at this point much 
earlier.  (Comment:  Spencer's observation reflects his 
belief that the dialogue stalled in July 2005, when the GOAB 
proposed a similar MOU.  End comment.)  Spencer also raised 
the issue of back severance pay for former HMB employees whom 
Mrs. Querard had agreed to compensate, despite the fact that 
it was the legal responsibility of the management company, no 
longer operating in Antigua, and not hers.  Rogers assured 
the PM that she was still willing to honor that commitment. 
 
REQUEST FOR SUPPORT IN OAS VOTE 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the U.S. Deborah 
May Lovell made a request at the end of the meeting for USG 
support for Dr. Jackie Quinn-Leandro as President of the OAS 
Inter-American Commission of Women.  Ambassador Kramer 
 
acknowledged Dr. Quinn-Leandro's qualifications and positive 
reputation in the region, without committing support. 
 
U.S. Geological Survey - MOU 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) At a press conference later that afternoon, 
Ambassador Kramer and Antigua and Barbuda Minister of 
Housing, Culture, and Social Transformation Hilson Baptiste 
signed an MOU to place a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 
Seismic Warning Station on Barbuda.  USGS Regional Specialist 
Jean Weaver and GOAB National Office of Disaster Service 
Deputy Director Philmore Mullins were on hand to address 
technical and logistical questions. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Despite a few unexpected turns in the day's 
schedule, the Antigua meetings were generally cordial and 
upbeat, focusing on positive achievements and looking toward 
continued good relations.  Post recommends USG support for 
Dr. Quinn-Leandro for leadership of the OAS Inter-American 
Commission of Women. 
GILROY