VZCZCXRO2477
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHWN #1473/01 3372103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032103Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5834
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEPVAP/TSA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAYGA/FAA SOUTHERN RGN HQ ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RUEAYNY/FAA EASTERN RGN HQ JAMAICA NY PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001473 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TRA FOR EMERY AND LIMAYE-DAVIS 
WHA/CAR FOR NORMAN 
FAA/IPPD/FSS FOR YUN AND BURDICK 
GEORGETOWN FOR LAVERY 
PORT OF SPAIN FOR WONG 
DHS/TSA FOR HURR AND MCNEIR 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON FAA XL
SUBJECT: CARICOM WANTS OPEN SKIES 
 
REF: STATE 146737 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) Policy-makers within CARICOM's civil aviation cluster 
expressed enthusiasm for an Open Skies Agreement with the 
United States.  The addition of new airlines and routes in 
the region, combined with unimpressive growth in the tourism 
sector has set the stage for discussions on a regional 
aviation policy that will best maximize efficiency, create 
options, and increase tourism in the region.  However, the 
interest in an OSA is most likely to be sustained from a 
willingness of the United States Government to negotiate a 
regional agreement through CARICOM (Secretariat), rather than 
bilateral agreements with each country.  End Summary. 
 
Definite Interest, But First Need to Get Our House in Order 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶2. (U) EconOff met with Secretary General of the Eastern 
Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, Rosemond James, and spoke 
via phone with CARICOM Board Member, Cecil Bernard, both of 
whom confirmed that CARICOM Member States desire to negotiate 
an Open Skies Agreement with the USG, as expressed at the 
Caribbean Tourism Organization conference in Puerto Rico this 
year.  However, all agreed that CARICOM Members must "clean 
up their own backyard first with the completion of a revised 
CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA).  Econoff 
also spoke with CARICOM Secretariat Senior Project Director, 
John Lewis, who explained that the revised MASA will be based 
on conformity with the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which 
must be completed before any multilateral or bilateral 
aviation agreement could be adopted. 
 
Outside and Internal Interests 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) Both James and Bernard confirmed that the European 
Commission has already approached CARICOM with a similar open 
skies proposal, which would adjust its current bilateral 
agreements with the E.U. to conform with a regional policy. 
Bernard admitted to Econoff that there is concern that 
"Belize is going it alone," which may complicate or slow the 
process for a standardized CARICOM aviation policy.  All 
policy-makers recognize that bilateral Open Skies Agreements 
already exist between the United States and other Caribbean 
countries, but those countries favor a multilateral approach. 
 While all aviation representatives admitted that CARICOM 
moves slowly, all felt strongly that a multilateral agreement 
through CARICOM is the best approach. Lewis informed Econoff 
that in December of this year, a CARICOM Technical Meeting 
will be convened to discuss the European Commission 
agreement, at which time it would be very useful to have 
formal communication from the United States on whether it 
supports a bilateral or multilateral approach to an Open 
Skies Agreement with CARICOM Member States. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶4. (U) Different conditions now in the region may make 
multilateral Open Skies Agreement negotiations less painful 
than in the past, but CARICOM will most likely appeal for 
multilateral, rather than bilateral, negotiations. 
Fortunately, the completion of the CARICOM Multilateral Air 
Services Agreement has already begun and could serve as a 
template for negotiations, rather than starting from scratch. 
 There is also strong support for regional aviation 
development initiatives, and most likely pressure from many 
CARICOM Member States to take advantage of the momentum 
generated in civil aviation development thus far.  At the 
same time, we should consider parallel-track bilateral 
negotiations with countries that have shown an interest and 
have been supportive of our policies in the region.  For 
example, countries like St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and 
 
BRIDGETOWN 00001473  002 OF 002 
 
 
Dominica, have all publicly expressed their desire for new 
routes, improved service, and additional choices, in order to 
capture the U.S. market. 
 
HOWARD