VZCZCXRO2011
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHSP #0378 2281916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151916Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9355
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000378 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR AND INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON TD
SUBJECT:  CLOSER TIES UNDER DISCUSSION AS REGIONAL LEADERS MEET 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1.  (U) Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines, Prime Minister Stevenson King of St. Lucia and President 
Bharat Jagdeo of Guyana joined Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of 
Grenada and Prime Minister Patrick Manning in Port of Spain August 
14 to discuss regional issues. During the meeting, the five leaders 
signed a "Joint Declaration to establish a framework for closer 
cooperation towards the achievement of the single economy by 2011 
and appropriate political integration by 2013."  To this end, the 
leaders mandated that a study be completed in the next four months 
to determine how best to move toward political and economic 
integration.  The regional heads also underscored that their 
declaration was "a statement of intent" and not meant to clash with 
any existing regional treaties or accords. 
 
¶2.  (U) The multilateral meeting came a day after PM Thomas began a 
State Visit to Trinidad that included meetings with Acting President 
Danny Montano, Manning and opposition leader Basdeo Panday.  At a 
State Dinner that evening, Montano highlighted T&T's and Grenada's 
deep ties by referencing that the two countries were governed 
jointly in the 1830's.  Montano also noted that Grenada has been the 
beneficiary of considerable economic and technical assistance from 
T&T, including roughly US$38 million from GOTT Petroleum 
Stabilization Fund following Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane 
Emily in 2005 and the provision of troops then to help in 
reconstruction efforts.  Thomas returned Montano's kind words by 
noting that as a child he listened to radio stations from Trinidad 
and recalling a 1962 vote in Grenada for unifying with T&T that was 
never followed through. 
 
¶3.  (U) Thomas' visit was not without controversy, though, as the 
GOTT provided, at its expense, a private jet to transport him. In 
addition, Manning's office purchased a two-page welcome message that 
was published in all three major national newspapers.  The 
opposition, and some members of the media, charged Manning was using 
public funds to make up to Thomas for past comments he had uttered 
regarding the Grenadian and an alleged political coup.  The PM's 
office derided that claim. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) COMMENT:  While the extent and importance of the joint 
declaration to move toward closer economic and political ties is 
unclear since it is not yet public, its announcement is in line with 
past aspirations expressed by Manning.  The PM sees T&T as a leader 
in the region and the driver of a more unified, prosperous and 
secure Caribbean. 
 
Kusnitz