VZCZCXRO5646
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #0462/01 1611934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101934Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7724
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000462 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (DHOFFMAN) (VDEPIRRO) 
INL (KBROWN) 
 
Reftel: State 28306, Kingston 355 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL SNAR ASEC ELAB PGOV ECON JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA:  Mid-year report card for the 2010 Major's List 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) continues to make progress in 
combating the significant flow of illicit drugs, fighting public 
corruption, and assisting in the extradition of wanted fugitives 
from U.S. Justice.  Although the GOJ expresses a desire to combat 
criminal activities and continues to cooperate with the Government 
of the United States (USG) on a wide range of law enforcement issues 
including: money laundering; anti-narcotics activities; community 
policing; and, internal criminal investigations, the results have 
been lagging. 
Endemic corruption, lack of effective internal communication, and a 
shortage of resources have let to less than optimal results.  Post 
recommends that Jamaica be kept on the Majors List as multi-ton 
shipments of marijuana continue to enter the United States; and, 
because Jamaica has more than the statutory minimum of 5000 hectares 
under cultivation.  However, there is no compelling evidence or 
reason to find that Jamaica has failed demonstrably to meet its 
international commitments to combat international crime, and thus it 
should not/not be decertified.  End Summary. 
 
Counternarcotics 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Jamaican Security Forces have continued to work alongside 
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agents to track and intercept 
shipments of cocaine transiting Jamaica for delivery in the United 
States.  Jamaican maritime assets were deployed on the U.S. 
Operation Riptide.  Year to date, security forces have seized more 
than 145 kilograms of cocaine at Jamaica's airports.  Anecdotal 
evidence indicates that there is a potential trend to see a return 
to multi-hundred kilo loads of cocaine through Jamaica as Mexican, 
Central American, and Dominican routes are pinched off because of an 
increased presence of U.S. law enforcement.  Since the start of the 
year, more than 6,000 kilos of compressed marijuana have been 
seized. 
 
Extradition - Fugitive Arrests 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The GOJ has continued to cooperate with the USG to 
apprehend wanted fugitives and extradite them to the United States. 
In 2009, for the first time, Jamaica was a full participant in the 
U.S. Marshals international fugitive round up.  Year to date, the 
U.S. Marshals Service and Jamaican security forces have apprehended 
16, closed 126 cases, and extradited/deported 14 fugitives back to 
the United States. 
 
Anti-Corruption 
---------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The GOJ has failed to pass its Anti-Corruption Special 
Prosecutor legislation during the 2008-2009 Parliamentary session. 
However, in 2008-2009 it made strides towards the prosecution of 
corrupt public officials with the arrest and initiation of trials 
against Superintendant Harry Daley, a senior police officer and Kern 
Spencer, a Member of Parliament and former Junior Minister.  The 
Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewelyn remains confident 
that when these two trials resume in late June, they will both 
result in convictions.  In 2009, the Anti-Corruption Branch of the 
Jamaica Constabulary Force launched its 1-800-Corrupt crime-stoppers 
hotline to increase the avenue for public complaints against corrupt 
police and customs' officers. 
 
Money Laundering/Financial Crimes 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) In 2009, the GOJ failed to pass the Financial Investigative 
Division (FID) Act, and it has not conducted the recommended 
top-to-bottom review and vetting of FID personal.  The GOJ has moved 
forward to develop a government-wide vetting policy.  All the 
cabinet agencies have approved the new policy, but it is awaiting 
the Prime Minister's signature before it can be implemented.  The 
Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing (JOLT) began in 2009; it 
is a joint Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - GOJ task 
force to target lottery scams that have already bilked U.S. victims 
of more than USD 30 million.  Proceeds from this scam have fueled 
weapons smuggling and drug trafficking in Jamaica. 
Police Reform 
------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The GOJ has made slow but steady progress in implementing 
the 100 plus recommendations of its Police Strategic Review.  The 
GOJ has prepared a detailed five-year action plan with a budget, and 
it has allocated a significant amount of its own resources to 
augment the donor support for this project.  USAID will provide 
 
KINGSTON 00000462  002 OF 002 
 
 
technical advisors to the police strategic implementation team.  In 
mid-2009, the Government of Canada (GOC) will provide an Advisor to 
the Commissioner to help spearhead the review process.  In 2009, the 
Commissioner of Police reassigned more than 280 members of the 9,000 
man force to gain management efficiencies, and provide new 
leadership to troubled police districts. 
 
Operation Kingfish 
------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) In 2008, in an effort to streamline operations and return 
Operation Kingfish to its primary mandate to target senior members 
of criminal organizations, the Commissioner reorganized Kingfish by 
combining it with the National Intelligence Bureau and Special 
Branch.  Kingfish has been working in collaboration with U.S., UK 
and Canadian law enforcement to develop its anti-gang strategy which 
targets the leadership of organized crime gangs in Jamaica. 
 
Conclusion 
---------- 
 
¶8. (U) The GOJ faces challenges, including a crushing debt burden 
(114 percent of GDP) and civil service payroll that, when combined 
with debt servicing, absorbs USD .78 cents of every dollar of 
revenue collected.  To the extent it is able, the GOJ continues to 
be a cooperative partner with the USG. There is no evidence that 
Jamaica has failed demonstrably to meet its international 
commitments to combat international crime, and it therefore should 
not be decertified.  Over the next year, post expects to see an 
increase in the amount of laundered money seized by the GOJ. Post 
Point of Contact for this update is Andrea Lewis, NAS Director 
LewisAM@state.gov 
HEG