VZCZCXRO1609
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0058/01 0211531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211531Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7214
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0541
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2350
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000058 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS TO CENTRAL AMERICAN CARIBBEAN BASIN COLLECTIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR 
- ANDRE CADIEUX TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW 
JUSTICE FOR ROBERT LIPMANN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ETRD EAID ECON SNAR MARR MOPS PHUM KCRM
KCOR, UNGA, JM, XL 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: AMBASSADOR JOHNSON'S FAREWELL CALLS ON 
PRIME MINISTER AND ON MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND 
FOREIGN TRADE 
 
REF: A. 08 KINGSTON 571 (251519Z JUN 08)(NOTAL) 
     ¶B. 08 KINGSTON 516 (061954Z JUN 08)(NOTAL) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.(SBU)  Appreciation for U.S. assistance, trade and 
investment, the Summit of the Americas, anti-crime and 
anti-corruption efforts, and the opportunity for Jamaica to 
make its case with the arrival of a new Administration in 
Washington were principal themes of Ambassador Brenda L. 
Johnson's farewell courtesy calls on Prime Minister Bruce 
Golding and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 
Kenneth Baugh.  End Summary. 
 
Farewell Call on Prime Minister 
------------------------------- 
 
2.(SBU)  Ambassador Johnson, accompanied by DCM, had her 
farewell call on Prime Minister (PM) Bruce Golding on January 
¶16.  Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFA&FT) 
Kenneth Baugh accompanied Golding.  The Prime Minister 
thanked the Ambassador for her three years of service.  The 
Ambassador then outlined some recent and ongoing elements of 
U.S. engagement in Jamaica, including the recent visit of the 
High Speed Vessel USS Swift, the approval of U.S. $5 million 
in Hurricane Gustav reconstruction assistance, expanded 
HIV/AIDs programs, and our programs in Jamaica on crime and 
security.  The Ambassador's main point to Golding was that 
Jamaica needs to be a better advocate for its own interests 
in Washington, and that the arrival of the new Administration 
will provide Jamaica a renewed opportunity to make its case. 
She noted that WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon had been asked 
to stay on for now, and would be a good starting point for 
such efforts.  The Ambassador also highlighted the April 
meeting of the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago 
as a chance for the Caribbean region to engage the new 
President and his team.   She noted that incoming Secretary 
of State Clinton had previously vacationed in Jamaica and had 
affection for the island.  Former Secretary Colin Powell 
remained a friend as well, and might be cultivated further. 
 
3.(SBU)  PM Golding said it might be unfair to knock on the 
door of the new President with Jamaica's concerns "with all 
that he will have on his plate," but on the other hand, "if 
you don't do that, you get left off the list."  The 
Ambassador asked what Jamaica's main message would be, and 
the PM replied "trade and investment."  Golding said his 
principal objective was to "fix and restructure" the Jamaican 
economy to ensure that, once the current financial turmoil 
ends, "we are in better shape to move forward when the storm 
passes."  He hoped that out of the current financial crisis 
would emerge a better "regulatory infrastructure."  Jamaica 
had had its own financial problems recently, particularly 
concerning the alternative investment schemes. 
 
4.(SBU)  The Ambassador suggested that the Prime Minister's 
dedication to fighting corruption would also improve the 
climate for attracting investment.  She asked the PM for the 
current situation regarding anti-corruption legislation in 
Parliament.  PM Golding replied that legislation to establish 
a special prosecutor to combat corruption was "well advanced" 
and would "make a huge difference."  This was expected to 
become law by the end of the year.  A second bill, Golding 
said, would give independent investigative authority to 
combat police corruption.   "Jamaicans for Justice" had 
pointed out some flaws in the draft legislation which were 
now being corrected, and then this too would move forward. 
The PM then turned to the issue of Jamaica's reliance on 
senior police officers from the UK.  He said he thought the 
police forces in the U.S., for example in Florida or the New 
York area, might have experience and knowledge more relevant 
to Jamaica's situation, and he asked if the U.S. might help 
in that regard.  The Ambassador responded that discussions 
along these lines were already underway between our Narcotics 
Affairs Office (NAS) and Police Commissioner Lewin. 
 
 
KINGSTON 00000058  002 OF 002 
 
 
Farewell Call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign 
Trade 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
5.(SBU)  In a subsequent separate meeting with Minister 
Baugh, the Ambassador noted that she was glad that the 
Embassy had been able to accomplish some positive things of 
late, including the opening of a new consular call center, 
which had eliminated the backlog for visa appointments.  She 
said she understood PM Golding felt that President-elect 
Obama would be overwhelmed by a pressing agenda upon taking 
office, and noted that the Summit of the Americas (SOA) 
scheduled April 17-19 in Port-of-Spain would be a golden 
opportunity for Jamaica to showcase its role as a regional 
leader; Secretary Clinton and Assistant Secretary Shannon 
would be there, and she believed SOUTHCOM Commander ADM 
Stavrides also would attend. 
 
6.(SBU)  The Ambassador then pointed out that several good 
recent opportunities for cooperation unfortunately had been 
missed.  A prime example had been the proposed Conference on 
Caribbean Security to have been held in early December, which 
had been requested by CARICOM, and for which the USG had 
planned and budgeted, only to have the Caribbean states 
subsequently seek a postponement.  Unfortunately, the PM had 
not been informed regarding the proposed conference.  Baugh 
then asked whether the proposed conference would be on the 
agenda of the SOA; DCM replied that, in all probability, at 
the SOA the U.S. and Caribbean states would hold side 
discussions, and perhaps could raise the conference proposal 
then.  The Ambassador then noted the importance to the U.S. 
and Jamaica of fighting corruption, and stressed that 
polygraph tests were essential for key personnel if USG 
assistance were to be sustained.  She then raised the 
inordinate delays ) up to a year -- in obtaining Jamaican 
death certificates, a source of great difficulties for the 
families of deceased U.S. citizens; Baugh said he would 
investigate.  The Ambassador noted that the USG provided 
funding for a special prosecutor for lottery scams, but was 
deeply concerned that, to date, monies recovered had not been 
turned over to the U.S. as agreed; to enable continued U.S. 
assistance, Jamaica must show good faith.  Baugh noted that 
such scams had evolved from the telephone call centers on the 
north coast; Montego Bay had become an "epicenter," which had 
led to many murders. 
 
7.(SBU)  In response to Ambassador's inquiry, Baugh said that 
he, rather than the PM, probably would attend the UNGA.  He 
then thanked the Ambassador for having been "a great friend 
of Jamaica."  The Ambassador said she would play an active 
role as a member of the American Friends of Jamaica.  Baugh 
then said that, during its recent retreat, the Cabinet had 
decided to look for ways to "intensify relations" between 
Jamaica and the U.S.  The Cabinet had determined that, across 
the region, those countries having implemented trade 
agreements with the U.S. ) NAFTA, CAFTA, or FTAs -- have 
done well; such an agreement would benefit Jamaican producers 
and workers.  Jamaica would be speaking with Honduras, 
Panama, and Costa Rica regarding the benefits of concluding 
an FTA with the U.S.  Baugh concluded by expressing the hope 
that the Jamaican diaspora in the U.S. would help to 
strengthen ties between the two countries. 
HEG