VZCZCXRO3592
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1490/01 2741819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011819Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5417
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0389
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (JOE TILGHMAN) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN EAID SOCI JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: NEW MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE 
SEEKS STRONGER TIES WITH U.S. AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
 
REF: (A) KINGSTON 1470 (271625Z SEP 07) 
 
(B) STATE 126663 (101747Z SEP 07) 
 
Summary and Conclusion 
---------------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) The new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 
confirms that a growth-oriented, reformist government seeking 
stronger ties to both the private sector and to the U.S. now has 
taken the helm of the Jamaican ship of state. 
End Summary and Conclusion. 
 
¶2. (U) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM and EmbOff, paid a courtesy 
call on Jamaica's new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, 
the Honorable Dr. Kenneth Baugh (bio info reftel A), the morning of 
September 28.  The newly appointed Minister of State within the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), Dr. Ronald 
Robinson, and MFAFT Director of Bilateral Relations Courtenay 
Rattray also were present. 
 
A pro-business, growth-oriented government 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) Ambassador began by noting that Prime Minister (PM) Bruce 
Golding's initial public addresses had been impressive.  The PM's 
emphases on promoting investment, business, and growth, and on 
cutting red tape, were encouraging, e.g., his proposal that all 
government licenses and permits be issued within 90 days or 
otherwise automatically approved.  Baugh said the new government had 
wanted to establish its pro-business credentials straightaway; it 
now was moving quickly, and hoped to keep the momentum going. 
 
Historical perspective 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Baugh then underscored the importance of the traditional 
friendship between Jamaica and the U.S.  Ties of immigration and 
trade had linked the two countries inextricably; indeed, several new 
members of parliament currently faced difficulties because of 
allegations they had sworn allegiance to the U.S. (prohibited under 
the constitution).  Baugh then offered a succinct summary of 
Jamaica's political-economic evolution of recent decades, indicating 
that: 
 
-- In the 1970s, state control of the economy under PM Michael 
Manley of the People's National Party (PNP) had crippled the 
country. 
 
-- In the 1980s, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government of PM 
Edward Seaga had led the country through a painful, but largely 
successful, readjustment process. 
 
-- Under PNP governments since 1992, Jamaica had accumulated 
enormous debts and deficits. 
 
-- Now, a new JLP government must once again get the economy going. 
The private sector would be the key to opening up opportunities, and 
Jamaica would be looking to attract greater U.S. investment. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Baugh confirmed that the new Minister of Finance, Audley 
Shaw, would take the lead in efforts to reduce Jamaica's burdensome 
debt (130 percent of GDP).  To this end, investment, job creation, 
and growth stimulation were essential.  Bureaucracy and red tape, 
crime, the steep cost of energy, and high interest rates were all 
serious impediments to economic growth. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador said she had been impressed that the new 
government had hit the ground running, without the benefit of any 
honeymoon period.  Baugh confirmed that recent weeks had indeed been 
hectic.  He then recalled the close cooperation between the Reagan 
administration and the government of PM Edward Seaga in the 1980s, 
when he had been involved in the formulation and implementation of 
the Caribbean Basin initiative (CBI).  In his view, CBI had been 
helpful to the Caribbean, but Jamaica had not taken full advantage 
of it.  Ambassador noted that the former Director of USAID/Jamaica, 
Karen Turner, was now serving in Washington and had responsibility 
within USAID for coordination of public and private sector funding; 
she hoped to meet with Turner October 10-11. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Baugh observed that the new government had much to 
accomplish in education and social services, and would have to deal 
with the consequences of two decades of weak economic growth. 
Ambassador offered to assist in arranging appointments for PM 
Golding with key contacts during his visit to Washington, 
tentatively scheduled for early December, and noted the important 
role played by the Jamaican Ambassador in Washington as an advocate 
for the country. 
 
 
KINGSTON 00001490  002 OF 002 
 
 
UNGA 
---- 
 
¶8. (U) In response to Ambassador's inquiry, Baugh confirmed he would 
travel to New York this weekend and would speak at the U.N. General 
Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, October 2. 
 
Hurricane Dean's Devastation 
---------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Ambassador noted that, because Hurricane Dean had not struck 
the island's north coast or Montego Bay, the outside world seemed to 
lack an understanding of the havoc wrought by the storm in southern 
Jamaica.  Fully 50 percent of the valuable coffee crop had been 
lost, and much of the rice and yam crops.  Baugh agreed, expressed 
thanks for the (modest) USG contribution to the recovery effort to 
date, and said Jamaica would be extremely grateful for any further 
USG assistance which might be forthcoming. 
 
Follow-up to Conference on Caribbean; 
HIV/AIDS Chiefs of Mission Conference 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) DCM noted that the Embassy looked forward to working with 
MFAFT and others in the GoJ in following up on agenda items from the 
Conference on the Caribbean in Washington (reftel B).  Ambassador 
briefly outlined plans for the HIV/AIDS Chiefs of Mission Conference 
to be hosted by the Embassy October 3-5.  Baugh (an accomplished 
surgeon, per reftel A) observed that in most first world countries, 
HIV/AIDS was largely limited to the homosexual population, while in 
Africa and the Caribbean the disease impacted the wider heterosexual 
mainstream.  In his view, several factors had contributed to the 
prevalence of the disease in Jamaica, including poverty and weak 
family ties.  Baugh concluded by pointing out that, while HIV/AIDS 
and other serious problems confronted the country, Jamaica 
nevertheless had many good things going for it-including its 
longstanding friendship with the U.S. 
 
JOHNSON