P 061926Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7593
INFO CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000355 
 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP - DIANNE GRAHAM 
WHA/CAR - ANDRE CADIEUX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PINR PREL EWWT EAIR PTER ASEC KCOR KCRM JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON NARCOTICS BENCHMARKS; 
AGENDA OF NEW NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER 
 
REF: (A) GRAHAM-LEWIS E-MAIL 
(B) KINGSTON 294 (151633Z APR 09)(NOTAL) 
(C) 08 KINGSTON 707 (052139Z AUG 08) 
(D) KINGSTON 303 (211132Z APR 09) 
(E) STATE 44630 (011906Z MAY 09) 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.(SBU) Charg met with Jamaica's new Minister of National Security, 
Dwight Nelson, and delivered demarche on the 2009 Benchmarks for 
certification under the Majors List process on May 4.  Nelson said 
his top priorities were improving Jamaica's border security, 
particularly its air and sea ports, stamping out the easy access to 
illegal weapons, and working to increase Jamaica's control of 
trafficking in illegal narcotics. 
End Summary. 
 
2.(U) In attendance for the U.S. Embassy - Charg James T. Heg, NAS 
Director Andrea Lewis, and Defense Attach Dominic Micillo; for the 
Ministry of National Security - Minister Dwight Nelson, Permanent 
Secretary Richard Reese, Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley 
Lewin, and Col. Rocky Meade of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF). 
 
3.(SBU) Charge' outlined the Major's List certification process and 
the statutory requirements for both the designation of Major's list 
countries and the decision criteria to ensure compliance with 
international counter narcotics obligations.  He further explained 
that the benchmarks he was presenting had been carefully coordinated 
in Washington, drawing on advice from the NAS and U.S. law 
enforcement at Post, and in consultation with members of the 
Jamaican security establishment, and were in many instances based 
upon programs and collaboration that were ongoing between Jamaica 
and the USA.  Neither the Minister nor his staff objected to any of 
the benchmarks, but the Minister rightfully commented that the 
benchmark urging the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) to vet the 
Financial Investigative Division (FID) and ensure passage of the FID 
Act was a matter to discuss with the Ministry of Finance (which 
Charg has done on several occasions). 
 
National Vetting Policy 
----------------------- 
 
4.(SBU) Major Reese updated the group on progress to implement a 
national vetting policy for persons in sensitive positions.  All the 
Permanent Secretaries have given their assent; it simply remains for 
the Office of the Public Service Commission, which is the chief 
civil service personnel organization, and the Office of the Prime 
Minister, to approve.  The Revenue Protection Division (Jamaica's 
criminal tax investigative agency) already has begun implementation 
of the policy for its entire staff.  The other key organizations 
that will fall under this new policy are the FID, Jamaican Customs, 
Immigration, and the Ministry of National Security. 
 
5.(SBU) There was a short discussion of the importance to continue 
their efforts to investigate and prosecute/discipline corrupt police 
officers.  Just that morning, it had been announced that the 
corruption prosecution of Sup. Harry Daley (reftel C) had again been 
adjourned for two months because of the unavailability of defense 
counsel.  The Minister and Commissioner of Police expressed dismay 
at the delay.  Nelson assured us he would speak with the Minister of 
Justice, whom he believed was equally disappointed.  The 
Commissioner indicated that the issue of unnecessary court 
postponements was a standing item at each National Security Council 
meeting. 
 
Top Security Priorities 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Nelson took the opportunity to outline for Charg his 
primary concerns:  improving border security (top priority); 
limiting the easy access to guns (both legal and illegal); and 
beefing up investigation, eradication, and interdiction of illegal 
narcotics.  Nelson stated that in his view, the illegal narcotics 
trade is the basis for most of Jamaica's crime problems.  The 
narcotics trade fuels gun purchases, and provides the financial 
oxygen that crime gangs need to survive.  The presence of this trade 
has a deleterious effect on Jamaican society, as well as a negative 
impact on Jamaica's relations with its major international partners 
-- the USA, Canada, and the UK. 
 
7.(SBU) The Minister was firm in his belief that Jamaica had 
adequate systems in place to provide surveillance and security; the 
problem was the people operating the systems.  In his view, Jamaica 
has hampered itself by not instituting a system of proscriptive 
discipline that would allow for the rapid removal of civil servants 
who violate the rules.  Nelson pledged to use his prior experience 
as Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance to try to 
find ways to change the current personnel dynamic. 
 
Port Security Bill 
------------------ 
 
8.(SBU) The Commissioner encouraged the Minister to look to resubmit 
the Port Security Bill to Parliament for consideration.  This 
legislation, which was originally conceived by former Minister of 
National Security Peter Phillips, would provide a common platform 
for Port Security under the leadership of the Ministry of National 
Security that would set the security standards and monitor the 
performance of the agencies with front-line responsibility to 
provide security at the air and sea ports. 
 
Airport Security 
---------------- 
 
9.(SBU) Charg informed Nelson of the Transportation Security 
Administration inspection of Jamaica's airports (May 5-9).  Since 
the April 19 attempted hijacking of a CanJet airliner in Montego Bay 
(reftel D), Nelson has been in regular contact with Minister of 
Transportation Mike Henry.  Nelson and Henry are involved in an 
ongoing process of reviewing the after-action reports of the 
hijacking as well as examining the security improvements that need 
to be made.  Nelson commented that although the day-to-day 
operations of the airports fall under Minster Henry's portfolio, for 
him, airport security transcends civil aviation and is a matter of 
National Security.  Nelson and Henry should present the after-action 
report to Cabinet next week; Nelson intends then to continue with a 
more in-depth look at possible security improvements. 
 
Proliferation Security Initiative Outreach and 
Caribbean Anti-Gang conferences 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
10.(SBU)  Charg also briefly touched on the Proliferation Security 
Initiative Outreach and Anti-Gang conferences, which will take place 
May 14 and May 5-9, respectively, and thanked the Minister for 
allowing his staff to participate. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
11.(SBU) There were some concerns at the outset that Minister 
Nelson's lack of security experience might present a great 
challenge.  However, he seemed fully in control at the meeting; when 
an issue came up with which he was not familiar, he seemed quite 
comfortable asking his advisors to fill him in.  This was the first 
meeting Embassy has had with a GoJ Minister of National Security in 
which the Commissioner of Police and a representative of the JDF 
headquarters have participated; this is a welcome change in 
leadership style which may prove productive. 
 
12.(SBU)  Note: Via septel, Post will report on engagement with 
Nelson and with the GoJ's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign 
Trade (MFAFT) regarding the U.S.-Caribbean technical discussions to 
advance the CBSI Dialogue (reftel E).  End Note. 
 
HEG