VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPO #0201/01 1341422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131422Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0171

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000201 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DS/OPO/FPD C.TOY, DS/IP/WHA M. WRIGHTE, WHA/CAR 
J.ROSHOLT, OBO W.MCLEESE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AFIN ABUD AMGT
SUBJECT: PARAMARIBO - RESIDENTIAL GUARDS; DS PROPOSAL TO 
REDUCE RESIDENTIAL GUARDS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 27945 
 
     ¶B. PARAMARIBO 85 
     ¶C. LEWIS/MARVIN TELECON OF 3/6/08 
     ¶D. TOY/MARVIN EMAIL OF 3/11/08 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  This cable responds to reftel (A) requiring Post 
compliance with Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB) 
standards for residential security and provides Embassy 
Paramaribo,s recommendations and funding requirements for 
residential security upgrades and measures needed to bring 
Post,s residential housing pool into compliance with OSPB 
standards. 
 
¶2. The Embassy also takes this opportunity to point out 
several specific, special circumstances that Post,s 
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) believes affords 
justification for maintaining its current residential guard 
program (paragraphs 7-11).  Post therefore requests that DS 
approach Post,s upcoming new guard contract solicitation 
process with flexibility, specifically by authorizing Post to 
solicit bids on three different guard proposals, each 
providing a different level of residential guard coverage 
(paragraph 12).  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Residential Security Upgrade Requirements: 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Embassy Paramaribo,s EAC met on April 8, 2008, following 
receipt of reftel (A) which notified Post of DS/OPO/FPD,s 
intention to eliminate Post,s residential guard program, 
citing OSPB standards for "High Crime" threat posts. 
 
¶4.  As a result of the deliberations of the EAC, in early 
April 2008, Regional Security Officer (RSO) Paramaribo 
resurveyed all Mission residences to determine what upgrades 
were needed to bring residences up to OSPB standards in the 
event that residential guards were removed.  The RSO 
determined that, due in part to an effective residential 
guard program, a number of security enhancements had been 
postponed, delayed, ignored, or were otherwise not possible 
based on local conditions.  The RSO also advised the EAC that 
the elimination of the residential security guards would 
create certain hazards and security challenges.  These are 
described below, along with RSO recommendations, endorsed by 
the EAC: 
 
-- Perimeter Barriers:  A nationwide ordinance prohibits 
perimeter walls or barriers that exceed 1.5 meters in height 
along streets and roadways and 2.5 meters on property lines 
bordering neighboring properties.  Exceptions require the 
permission of the Ministry of Public Works; however, waivers 
are unlikely.   Reportedly the Ministry has directed the 
tearing down of walls that exceed those heights enumerated in 
the ordinance, and Embassy residence landlords have refused 
to increase the height of perimeter walls, citing the local 
ordinance.  These low walls provide easy access to 
residential properties by criminals.  Outdoor motion 
detectors are impractical, due to the prevalence of small 
animals and birds.  Some builders or homeowners have 
installed chain link fences or barriers of iron bars that 
exceed the heights permitted in the ordinance; however, we 
believe this may also be a violation of the ordinance.  In 
short, there is no way around the ordinance. 
 
-- Electric Gates:  Loss of residential guards would require 
installation and maintenance of electric driveway gates so 
that residents would not have to dismount from the protection 
of their vehicles while attempting to open the driveway 
gates, thus increasing their susceptibility to crime.  (NOTE: 
 We understand this may come under the purview of OBO; 
however, the RSO considers this equipment extremely important 
for personal safety at a critical choke point.) 
 
-- Pedestrian Gates:  If post were to lose residential 
guards, all residences would need to have a pedestrian gate 
with padlocks keyed alike to allow access for Mobile 
Patrols/React Units and the RSO for normal rounds and in case 
of emergency. 
 
-- Intercoms:  Installation of intercoms would be necessary 
so that tenants could screen visitors from the safety of 
their residences or safe havens. 
 
-- Grills:  Whether or not the residential guard program is 
cut back, windows at some residences would have to be grilled 
to meet OSPB standards including the installation of fire 
egresses in all grilled bedrooms. 
 
-- Perimeter/Safehaven doors:  During his survey, the RSO 
noted that many doors and locks did not meet OSPB standards 
and would need to be replaced or upgraded. 
 
-- Alarms:  If post were to lose residential guards, 
residential alarm systems would become one of the most 
important aspects of our residential security profile. 
Additional keypads, sensors and panic buttons would be needed. 
 
-- CAMS:  The Embassy does not have a separate alarm 
monitoring contract.  The majority of the alarms at Mission 
residences are owned by the Embassy and set up with an 
auto-dialer, which utilizes a landline to dial the local 
guard company and the Local Guard Coordinator (an Embassy 
Locally Employed Staff member).  The local guard company then 
contacts the local guard at the residence and sends the 
mobile patrol for assistance, if needed.  Due to continuous 
problems with the local telephone system, and the ability of 
criminals to cut telephone lines, the auto dialers are not 
considered a reliable system.  To be truly considered as 
reliable, functional CAMS, all alarms should be upgraded by 
adding leased RF transmitters to be monitored by an 
established alarm monitoring company. RSO has investigated 
and has found only one suitable local company that can 
provide this service. 
 
-- Mobile Response Unit:  The elimination of static guards at 
Embassy residences would require increased patrols by mobile 
units.  The addition of one, 24x7, 2-person Mobile 
Patrol/React unit would allow a 5-7 minute response time 
anywhere in the city. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
Residential Security Upgrade Cost Estimates 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶5. A specific breakdown of needed residential security 
upgrades follows: 
 
One Time Cost Upgrades: 
                              Qty         Cost        Total 
Install. of electric gates    5           $2,000      $10,000 
Installation of Ped. Gate     4           $550        $2,200 
Ped. Gate Padlocks            25          $30         $750 
Purchase of Intercoms         18          $600        $10,800 
Grilling Per Square Meter     28          $75         $2,100 
Emergency Egress Install      9           $200        $1,800 
OSPB Standard Doors           16          $200        $3,200 
S&G 181 Sliding Deadbolt      60          $65         $3,900 
Shipping Costs-S&G 181s                               $300 
Alarm Keypad Purch.   Inst.   7           $280        $1,960 
Wired Panic Buttons  Inst.    72          $100        $7,200 
RF CAMS Transmitter Inst.     18          $75         $1,350 
 
Recurring Cost Upgrades: 
 
RF CAMS Trans. Lease/Yr       18          $600        $10,800 
 
CAMS Monitoring Svc/Yr        18          $300        $5,400 
 
Total Cost for One Time Upgrades                      $45,560 
Total Cost for Recurring Upgrades                     $16,200 
------------- 
Total                                                 $61,760 
 
 
¶6. Post would require $30,000 for the remainder of FY08, 
followed by $31,670 for FY09 to complete the residential 
security upgrade project prior commencement of the new 
contract on February 1, 2009. Once the funds are received RSO 
and Post,s residential security coordinator would 
immediately commence upgrading residences. Assuming the first 
installment of FY08 funding was received soon, and the FY09 
request was received early in FY09, RSO does not anticipate a 
problem with finishing the upgrades prior to the commencement 
of the new guard contract. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONSIDERATIONS: 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Although Paramaribo is currently rated a "High Crime" 
threat post, DS/IP/ITA has informally indicated that Post,s 
crime threat rating may be raised to "Critical" in the near 
future, based upon the Post,s February 29, 2008 "Annual 
Crime Evaluation Questionnaire (ACEQ)". 
 
¶8.  Embassy Paramaribo EAC understands that OSPB standards 
would require that a proposal to initiate a Residential Guard 
 
Program would be considered after two consecutive review 
periods confirmed the advisability of instituting a 
residential guard program; however, the elimination of an 
existing residential guard program at a post that is already 
demonstrating the trend seems counterintuitive and counter 
productive. 
 
¶9.  As reported in Post,s February 29 ACEQ, crime in 
Suriname has increased significantly in recent years. 
Criminals are becoming more aggressive and more violent. 
Armed home invasions have become a common occurrence in areas 
surrounding the Embassy and Mission residences.  Post,s EAC 
believes that the best deterrent to residential crimes is the 
presence of residential guards.  The local Police liaison to 
the Embassy and other diplomatic and international missions 
in Paramaribo agree.  The Dutch Embassy, which participates 
in the informal network of Security officers created by 
Post,s RSO, have recently changed guard companies (to the 
company used by the U.S. Embassy) and beefed up training and 
security around both the Dutch Embassy and residences. Dutch 
officials have expressed disbelief that the U.S. Embassy 
would contemplate cutting back on security measures, as they 
are convinced that the upward trend in crime will continue. 
Suriname,s zoning ordinance restricting the heights of 
perimeter walls presents, perhaps, the single most serious 
challenge for ensuring residential security in the absence of 
static residential security guards. 
 
¶10.  Armed carjackings have increased in the past few months, 
and we are aware of at least one instance of kidnapping for 
ransom.  Criminals target victims based upon their appearance 
and the types of cars they drive.  Residences are key 
chokepoints for these types of crimes; the presence of 
residential guards is a key deterrent. 
 
¶11. Post has worked carefully over the past decade to 
cultivate a responsive and effective residential security 
guard program.  Performance standards are high, and guards 
have received extensive training.  It will not be possible to 
terminate the residential guard program, and then start it up 
again if and when the &critical8 crime rating endures for 
two consecutive rating periods. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
POST PROPOSALS FOR RESIDENTIAL SECURITY: 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  SOLICITATION OPTIONS: 
 
-- OPTION A:   In light of the uncertainty of the crime trend 
and the impending expiration of the current residential guard 
contract (which is part of the overall Embassy security 
contract), Post requests authorization to extend the current 
guard contract by one (1) year.  That would give Post the 
opportunity to confirm that current crime trends are enduring 
and warrant maintenance of the current LGP.  This is the 
option that the EAC recommends. 
 
-- OPTION B:   A reduction in the residential guard program 
to 12 hour coverage from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.  This option 
would provide coverage at times of greatest risk. 
 
-- OPTION C:  All residential guards, with the exception of 
those at the Ambassador and DCM residences, are eliminated 
per DS/OPO/FPD,s request.  One additional 24x7, 2-person 
Mobile Patrol/React unit is added. This should allow a 5-7 
minute response time anywhere in the city. 
 
------------------- 
RESPONSE REQUESTED: 
------------------- 
 
¶13. Post is currently working on the solicitation for the 
next guard contract. Before getting too far into this 
process, Post requests further guidance from DS to determine 
what level of guard service should be specified in the 
solicitation.  Furthermore, Post seeks DS,s permission to 
list and request bids on all three of the options listed in 
paragraph 12 above in the solicitation. 
 
¶14. Post appreciates DS/OPO/FPD,s attention to this matter 
and looks forward to their reply. 
GENTON