VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0480/01 1672004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 162004Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7745

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000480 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE FOR INFO 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
(DHOFFMANN)(RALVARADO)(VDEPIRRO)(WSMITH) 
STATE FOR OGAC 
USAID/LAC 
USAID/GLOBAL HEALTH 
SANTO DOMINGO FOR FCS AND FAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AID SOCI PREL KHIV TBIO JM XL
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: ANTI-DISCRIMINATION EFFORTS FOR HIV 
POSITIVE WORKERS 
 
Summary and Recommendation 
-------------------------- 
 
¶1. (U) On June 11 the Jamaica Business Council on 
HIV/AIDS hosted the 4th Pan Caribbean Business Coalition 
Forum on HIV/AIDS (forum) for business and NGO leaders in 
the Caribbean.  At the event the Government of Jamaica 
(GOJ) highlighted that Jamaica has more than 30,000 
people living with HIV/AIDS and the most at-risk group 
are those who are also the majority of the labor force. 
A study estimates that that HIV/AIDS causes a 6 percent 
loss of GDP for Jamaica.  The GOJ is in the process of 
drafting new legislative reforms for HIV positive 
workers.  The Minister of Health and the Director of the 
National Program for HIV/AIDS would like to visit 
Washington in mid-September to brief USG officials on the 
HIV/AIDs epidemic in Jamaica.  Post recommends that 
Washington approve, and will coordinate the schedule. 
End Summary and Recommendation 
 
Significant HIV Infected Community 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) In the keynote address, Minister of State in the 
Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Andrew Gallimore, 
(speaking on behalf of Minister of Labour Purnell 
Charles) acknowledged that HIV has a significant impact 
on production and national development in Jamaica. 
According to the National HIV and Sexually Transmitted 
Infections (STI) Program, Jamaica?s national HIV 
prevalence rate in 2008 was 1.6 percent, up from the 
previously reported 1.5 percent.  It is estimated that 
Jamaica has approximately 30,000 people living with 
HIV/AIDS: the largest infected population in the English 
and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. 
 
Critical and Challenging Moment 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Gallimore noted that ?these figures indicate to us 
that we are at a critical and challenging moment and we 
must respond effectively.?  The most critical segment of 
the workforce are those in the 18-49 age range, which is 
also the group most at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. 
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, as the lead 
agency in the workplace, in partnership with the National 
HIV/STI Program, has developed the National Workplace 
Policy (NWP) on HIV/AIDS for the GOJ, employers, and 
workers. 
 
National Policy Process 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The NWP is now a green paper to be deliberated by 
an eleven member Joint Select Committee of Parliament.  A 
report has been drafted that will be presented to the 
main House of Parliament.  After recommendations have 
been made to Parliament by the Joint Select Committee and 
approval received, the document will be submitted to 
Cabinet as a White Paper.  Cabinet will approve and 
instruct the relevant Ministries to carry out the 
implementation process. 
 
¶5. (U) Gallimore made it clear that he foresees legal 
implications once it become obligatory for companies to 
develop and implement an HIV/AIDS policy.  When the 
provisions of the Green Paper become regulations, there 
will have to be provisions for education, treatment, 
care, and support, as well as a grievance system.  The 
provisions related to HIV regulations in the Green Paper 
will become mandatory when they are included under the 
proposed Occupational Safety and Health Act. 
 
Plans for the Future 
-------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Gallimore called for adequate resources to be 
provided for an effective, multi-pronged, long-term 
behavior change strategy to reduce new infections.  In 
keeping with previous statements by Ministers of Health 
in the region, Gallimore said the Caribbean had ?no 
choice but to work together as we have so much in 
 
common,? yet he noted that ?we must not fail to recognize 
the uniqueness of each territory in attempting to address 
HIV and AIDS.? 
 
HIV/AIDS In The Region 
---------------------- 
 
7 (U) In an examination of the AIDS situation in the 
Caribbean, the 2008 UNAIDS report on the global AIDS 
epidemic, reported that at 1.6 percent Jamaica has the 
third highest prevalence rate in the entire Western 
hemisphere after the Bahamas at 3.3 percent and Haiti at 
2.2 percent.  Trinidad?s prevalence rate follows at 1.5 
percent while the OECS countries experience much lower 
prevalence rates and numbers of persons living with 
HIV/AIDS. 
 
Costs to GDP, Private Sector Action 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) In Jamaica, HIV currently causes a 6 percent 
loss of in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a 
recent study by the University of the West Indies.  If 
HIV/AIDS is not managed effectively, it may have a 
devastating effect on the local workforce in a country 
already hard hit by the global financial crisis.  Also 
worthy of note is a proposal by Chairman of the Jamaica 
Business Council on HIV/AIDS Earle Moore (who is also CEO 
of Guardian Life, one of Jamaica?s largest insurance 
companies) to formulate a plan for extending health and 
life insurance coverage to HIV positive people. 
 
Comment And Recommendation 
-------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) As part of the consultation process in 
preparation for the development and approval of the new 
Caribbean Regional Framework to combat HIV/AIDS, USAID 
Director and Pol/Econ Section will meet with Labor 
Minister Charles to urge passage and implementation of 
the policy contained in the Green Paper at the earliest 
opportunity.  Post will also encourage the GOJ to assume 
a leadership role among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) 
nations in the formulation and passage of similar 
workplace legislation throughout the region.  Minister of 
Health, Rudyard Spencer and the Director of the National 
Program for HIV/AIDS, Dr. Kevin Harvey, would like to 
visit Washington in mid-September to make a presentation 
on the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Jamaica.  This would be an 
excellent opportunity for USG interlocutors to meet with 
GOJ officials on this topic. Post will coordinate this 
visit.  End Comment and Recommendation. 
 
MOSS