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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0110
INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000553 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR  - SEAN WHALEN/WILLARD SMITH 
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/23 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON SENV GY
SUBJECT: Pol/Econ Round-up December 8-December 24 
 
REF: 09 GEORGETOWN 522; 09 GEORGETOWN 543 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Karen L. Williams, Charge d'affaires, DOS, Exec; 
REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.      (U) This "round-up" reporting cable covers December 
8-December 24. 
 
 
 
Copenhagen - Lower Than Expected Results 
 
¶2.      (U) Local media reported that the UN Climate Change Summit 
ended on lower than expected results. President Bharrat Jagdeo 
expressed disappointment with the total agreement, but claimed his 
own political victory for having REDD (Reduced Emissions from 
Deforestation and Degradation) enshrined in the final agreement. 
While calling for greater commitments by both the U.S. and China to 
assist the developing world and reduce their own greenhouse gas 
emission levels, he secured political victory at home with his Low 
Carbon Development Strategy passed in Parliament on December 17. 
Media reaction toward President Obama's speech delivered in 
Copenhagen was lukewarm as skepticism remains over the actual 
amount the U.S. plans to contribute towards the proposed USD100 
billion global climate funds. 
 
 
 
Ramsaroop Criticizes Embassy After Girlfriend Denied Visa Thrice 
 
¶3.      (SBU) Opposition Party Alliance for Change (AFC) Chief 
Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Ramsaroop publicly criticized the 
U.S. Embassy in Georgetown for "lack of economic focus" after his 
girlfriend was refused a U.S. tourist visa for the third time. 
Ramsaroop was quoted in the newspapers as stating that he wants to 
"give up" U.S. citizenship and that the U.S. Embassy is not 
interested in facilitating investments in Guyana whereas the 
Chinese and Russian mission in Guyana "continually bring in 
investors from China and Russia."  Ramsaroop is a naturalized U.S. 
citizen who previously served as a Military Officer in the U.S. Air 
Force where he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 
Ramsaroop's 24-year old unemployed girlfriend has been denied a 
visa every year since 2007. 
 
 
 
Minister Admits Police Brutality In torture OF 15-YEAR-OLD 
 
¶4.       (SBU) On December 9, Minister of Home Affairs (MoHA) 
Clement Rohee publicly released the GoG's report on police abuses 
of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas.  Rohee stated that he fully supports 
advice proffered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with 
respect to disciplinary and criminal charges against Guyana Police 
Force (GPF) ranks.  Rohee confirmed that the teenager was 
"tortured", that disciplinary and criminal charges are to be made 
against ranks of the GPF, and that MoHA expressed regret to both 
the victim and his family.  Opposition Party AFC Chairman Khemraj 
Ramjattan is representing the victim in his lawsuit against the 
GoG.  Rohee stated that "every effort is being made to ensure that 
there is no repetition of such incidents in the future" without 
specifying details.  PolChief is scheduled to meet with Rohee on 
December 29 to discuss human rights cases and the GoG response to 
preventing future incidents. 
 
 
 
ROGER Khan Saga Continues 
 
¶5.       (C) Former Army Major and close associate of drug kingpin 
Roger Khan, David Clarke's time-served sentence and release sent 
shockwaves among local media.  Most newspapers allege that both 
Major Clarke and to an extent, Khan, were given lighter sentences 
due to valuable information they provided to the U.S. on senior 
Guyanese officials involved in narcotics trafficking.  The 
perception here is that compared to the 14-year sentence for Roger 
Khan lawyer Robert Simels for witness tampering, Clarke got off 
easy.  Media criticized GoG for not informing the Guyanese public 
for nearly three years about Clarke's incarceration and charges in 
the U.S.  Subsequent GPF investigations into Khan have not linked 
Khan to crimes in Guyana.  Chief of Criminal Investigation 
 
GEORGETOWN 00000553  002 OF 002 
 
 
Department (CID), Seelall Persaud, maintains his position that he 
needs more information from the U.S. COMMENT: In 2007 Persaud 
publicly stated that Khan was involved in narcotics trafficking, 
but has changed that line, presumably in exchange for political 
favor from higher-ups eager to maintain innocence and zero links to 
Khan. END COMMENT. 
 
 
 
Will Local Government Elections Ever Occur? 
 
¶6.       (C) The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) (No.2) 
Bill of 2009 was passed in Parliament on Thursday December 10.  The 
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has also extended the deadline 
until December 31 for citizens to obtain National ID cards to 
register to vote in local and national elections.  Local elections 
have not occurred in Guyana since 1994.  While passing a bill and 
starting a new system of registration are positive steps, 
skepticism remains over local election timelines.  GECOM head Steve 
Surujbally told the Charge December 22 that elections have been 
scheduled, but not announced yet for April 19.  Former Foreign 
Minister, Rashleigh Jackson, told PolChief that several challenges 
remain that could postpone local elections indefinitely. 
Challenges cited include capacity of various political parties to 
move forward with local elections when national elections are 
scheduled in 2011, ambiguity remaining over a possible third term 
for Jagdeo, and potentially other political dramas that could 
derail local elections from occurring on or before December 1, 
¶2010. 
WILLIAMS