VZCZCXRO6173
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHGE #0435/01 1241953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041953Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5156
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ETTC KSUM CARICOM XL
SUBJECT: CARICOM: LITTLE PROGRESS ON CONFERENCE ON THE 
CARIBBEAN 
 
REF: A. GEORGETOWN 406 
 
     ¶B. STATE 43123 
     ¶C. GEOGRETOWN 391 
     ¶D. STATE 49116 
 
See action request - para 4. 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (SBU) After a month of trying for a substantive discussion 
with CARICOM Secretariat on the agenda for the 20/20 
Conference, Secretary General Carrington told Ambassador that 
CARICOM agrees with the broad themes suggested by the U.S. 
and wished to add another "Migration and Development" that 
might include discussion of deportees.  Carrington hopes 
CARICOM will be able to flesh out content for each theme 
during a CARICOM Summit in Belize next week.  End Summary. 
 
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Little Progress on Agenda 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) CARICOM Secretary General Carrington, along with 
A/SG Granderson and Foreign Policy Program Manager 
Atkinson-Jordan met Ambassador and DCM May 3 for a 
long-awaited (ref A) meeting to discuss WHA's proposed agenda 
for the government-to-government meetings during the 
Conference on the Caribbean.  Referring to notes, Carrington 
said CARICOM agreed with the "four broad themes" in the draft 
agenda (ref B), referring to them as Promotion of Democratic 
Institutions, Economic Growth and Development, Regional 
Prosperity, and Security.  He said energy and social 
investment fit under the economic theme and U.S-CARICOM 
relations fits under the democracy theme.  Still referring to 
notes, Carrington suggested a fifth theme, "Migration and 
Development", noting that in the context of the large 
Caribbean diaspora in the U.S., there must be talk of the 
relation of movement of people to development.  He also 
suggested that the US (sic) might wish to discuss the 
deportee issue. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Carrington noted the need for content to fill out 
each of the five themes and said he is "reasonably 
comfortable" this will be achieved when when CARICOM foreign 
ministers and heads of government see each other during the 
COFCOR meeting and CARICOM-Central America Summit, both in 
Belize next week. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Graderson asked Ambassador for assistance in getting 
answers to three questions from Washington: 
-- Are the proposed agenda items for both the POTUS and 
SecState meetings? 
-- How does the USG see the outcome document? 
-- What is the USG view on implementation processes for 
Summit outcomes? 
The CARICOM side had no views to offer on these issues.  With 
reference to implementation, Granderson said CARICOM is 
"getting there" on the CITIA statement (ref A and D) and 
hopes to have something after the Belize summit. 
 
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Attendence 
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¶5. (SBU) The current draft list of CARICOM Secretariat 
attendees for the summit includes 18 persons, but the 
Secretariat is trying to whittle it down further.  CARICOM 
 
SIPDIS 
declined to provide any specificity beyond that already 
informally shared with post (ref C).  Carrington voiced 
concern at the cost of the summit, referring to high airfares 
and expensive hotel rooms, and cost of technical support for 
the conference.  He did not ask for financial support, but 
his repetition of the point conveyed the clear indication 
that CARICOM would welcome an offer of financial assistance. 
Regarding bilateral attendence, Carrington said he had no 
reason to believe any CARICOM head of government would not 
attend. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Carrington referred repeatedly to the Americas 
Competitiveness Forum as a good precursor to the Conference 
on the Caribbean, noting that the question of international 
competitiveness is most fundamental for Caribbean economies. 
At least seven CARICOM ministers will attend, in addition to 
CARICOM secretariat staff.  Carrington is personally working 
to encourage strong representation by the Caribbean private 
sector. 
 
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GEORGETOWN 00000435  002 OF 002 
 
 
Comment: CARICOM under Pressure 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Carrington noted with resignation that CARICOM has 
three summits, thirteen ministerials, and one meeting of the 
Bureau of Heads of Government scheduled between now and July, 
giving the Secretariat an impossible workload and making it 
difficult to ensure implementation of decisions made at the 
various meetings.  This is on top of the already 
near-impossible task of coordinating concensus among 
ambassadors, heads of government, foriegn ministers, and the 
Secratariat.  Both the CARICOM Secretariat and Guyana's MFA 
give the strong impression that they would appreciate a firm 
USG hand on the steering wheel as we drive toward June 19. 
 
Robinson