VZCZCXRO2440
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHGR #0164/01 3251307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211307Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY GRENADA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0324
INFO RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 0350
RUEHGR/AMEMBASSY GRENADA 0390

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GRENADA 000164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV CASC CVIS KCRM EFIN ASEC GJ
SUBJECT: WHA/CAR DIRECTOR DE PIRRO VISITS TO GRENADA 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: WHA/CAR Director Velia De Pirro met with a 
range of local government officials and community leaders during 
her November 12-13 visit to Grenada.  In her meetings, De Pirro 
reiterated continued U.S. engagement in the region and stressed 
the importance of demonstrating support for democracy and 
protection of human rights in upcoming country resolution votes 
at UNGA.  De Pirro explained the current pilot program in three 
CARICOM countries to assist in the reintegration of deportees 
from the United States which, if additional resources become 
available, could  be expanded to include other Caribbean 
nations.  De Pirro visited the local Peace Corps office and met 
with Embassy Grenada local staff.  She hosted a lunch that 
included OAS, university, media, and political representatives. 
At the lunch, De Pirro told the OAS resident representative the 
USG would consider his request for U.S. support for an election 
observer mission when Grenada next holds  elections, expected 
within a year.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (U) Charge d'Affaires Karen Jo McIsaac accompanied Director 
De Pirro to all meetings except at the Peace Corps office. 
 
St. George's University 
 
¶3. (U) De Pirro met briefly with the Chancellor of St. George's 
University (SGU), Dr. Charles Modica and SGU's deans.  The group 
described the university's evolution from an overseas medical 
school for American students to its current international 
student body, with scholarship students from around the world. 
.  Veterinary medicine was added in 1998 and a nursing program 
will open in January 2008.  .  Modica expressed concern about 
the high number of Grenadians, who were issued visas to 
participate in a caregiver training program, but remained in the 
U.S. illegally.  Note:  Over half of the group either did not 
even start the training or did not return to Grenada at its 
conclusion.  Modica promised to put in place measures to ensure 
compliance with visa conditions. 
 
Grenadian Government Officials 
 
¶4. (U) De Pirro held separate meetings with Minister of Foreign 
Affairs Elvin Nimrod and Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, but 
covered much the same ground in each.  Both welcomed De Pirro to 
Grenada and thanked the United States for its $46 million 
assistance program post-Hurricane Ivan in 2004, by far the 
largest contribution from any donor. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Mitchell noted his understanding for the multiple 
demands faced by the United States in the world.  He stated that 
the most significant help the U.S. could give is its support for 
Grenada, and other CARICOM countries, in the international 
financial institutions.  De Pirro assured the PM and MFA that we 
are paying attention to the region, commenting that while it may 
not always be in the headlines, U.S. assistance continues to 
flow to the Caribbean countries.  Both Nimrod and Mitchell 
welcomed De Pirro's assurance that WHA/CAR is following up on 
the June 2007 Conference on the Caribbean deliverables with 
monthly meetings with CARICOM ambassadors. 
 
¶6. (U) De Pirro explained the new program to help deportees from 
the U.S. re-assimilate into their home countries.  The USG 
signed a memorandum of agreement with the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) and pilot program is starting 
up in Jamaica, Guyana, and The Bahamas with limited funding. 
Should the program prove successful, and additional funding 
become available, the program will be extended to other CARICOM 
countries. 
 
¶7. (SBU) De Pirro pointed out the importance of supporting 
democracy and human rights and suggested that voting as a bloc 
often does not work well as the group's positions represent the 
lowest common denominator.  She reminded Nimrod that the 
upcoming UNGA resolutions on Iran, Belarus, North Korea, and 
Burma are of great importance to the United States and asked 
that Grenada support them.  Nimrod was unable to provide any 
information on Grenada's voting position for any of these 
resolutions.  (COMMENT:  In addition to being Minister for 
Foreign Affairs and Attorney General, Nimrod is the member of 
Parliament for the islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique. 
Mitchell told McIsaac on November 8 that he has picked up more 
of the MFA duties so that Nimrod can spend more time in his 
constituency, as "foreign ministers do not win elections."  END 
COMMENT) 
 
Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition 
 
¶8. (SBU) Opposition leader, National Democratic Congress (NDC) 
political leader, Tillman Thomas raised the issue of immigration 
to the U.S., saying he just returned from a trip to New York 
City and the recent debate over issuing driver's licenses to 
illegal immigrants is upsetting.  De Pirro pointed out that the 
issue is divisive in the United States, with some believing that 
the group should have all rights and privileges and others 
 
GRENADA 00000164  002 OF 002 
 
 
believing that they should have none.  (Embassy Comment: Thomas 
was reflecting a commonly held conviction here that Grenadians 
have a right to live in the United States, regardless of their 
visa status.  Over 95% of first time passport applications 
received at Embassy Grenada are for children born to Grenadian 
women who deliberately went there to give birth.  END COMMENT) 
 
¶9. (U) Thomas noted NDC's concern about the Royal Grenadian 
Police Force (RGPF) inability to effectively combat drugs 
transiting Grenada, a direct result of a lack of a competent 
coast guard.  De Pirro responded that it is easier for the 
United States to assist countries that build their capabilities. 
 She added that the police need to maintain high standards; we 
can help with training, but less so on equipment.  In fact, for 
institutions to work, a core professional staff is required that 
recognizes the chain of command. 
 
¶10. (U) According to a recently released World Bank report, 
agriculture is still a primary instrument for poverty 
alleviation, which the NDC wants to focus on.  Thomas said the 
party plans to develop a national export strategy for the 
production of herbs and spices, given Grenada's rich soil. 
Thomas indicated the NDC's interest in keeping people in rural 
areas focused on agriculture.  De Pirro noted that while the 
government could provide incentives to promote farming, it 
should not force people to engage in farming or force them to 
remain in rural areas.  She stressed that private initiative 
were key to economic development 
 
Royal Grenadian Police Force 
 
¶11. (SBU) Commissioner of Police (COP) Winston James explained 
that as Grenada has no military, the RGPF includes, in addition 
to the regular police force, immigration, customs, fire 
brigades, coast guard, a small paratroop unit (Special Services 
Unit or SSU) which incorporates a drug squad.  The RGPF intends 
to increase the number of coast guard officers, as recommended 
by the United States, but the initial screening has caught a 
number of officers engaged in illegal activity, so the process 
is moving more slowly than hoped.  James said his key goal is to 
get training for the new coast guard officers, once they are in 
place.  James stressed that Grenada shared the U.S. concern with 
narcotics trafficking through the region, particularly the flow 
of drugs through Venezuela.  He noted, however, that without a 
viable coast guard Grenada was powerless to interdict 
traffickers in its own territory. 
 
¶12. (U) De Pirro welcomed Grenada's cooperation with the United 
States on law enforcement issues and noted our continued 
engagement in the region.  She asked the COP about the RGPF 
plans and needs.  James asked specifically if ICITAP training is 
still available, since he has identified a need for training in 
forensic sciences and investigation.  De Pirro responded that 
ICITAP has shifted its focus to other regions.  James attributed 
crime in Grenada to local gangs and young men on drugs. 
MCISAAC