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O 021752Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0328
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0095
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RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000747 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (VDEPIRRO) (WSMITH) (JMACK-WILSON) 
WHA/EPSC (MROONEY) (FCORNEILLE) 
INR/RES (RWARNER) 
WHA/CCA FOR JARAHN HILLSMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/02 
TAGS: ECON EFIN EINV ETTC SOCI PREL PINR TRSY IDB IMF JM
XL 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT, NOVEMBER 2009 
 
REF: STATE 115416; KINGSTON 377; 08 KINGSTON 1042; 08 KINGSTON 482 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Isiah Parnell, CDA; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Post has provided responses to questions listed in Reftel A. 
On May 5 during the 2009-2010 National Budget  Debate in 
Parliament, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said, "We  continue to 
advocate for the revocation of the U.S. embargo  against Cuba and 
the normalization of Cuba's relations within the hemisphere. I have 
every belief that it will happen.  But it is a process, not an 
event, and we must  nurture and protect that process, not confront 
it." Golding has said in other recent speeches that he hopes to see 
an end to the isolation of Cuba (reftels).  In October, the 
Parliament passed a resolution intent on sending a message that the 
United States should remove the 47-year old economic embargo 
against Cuba.  In speaking before Parliament, Minister of Foreign 
Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, said Jamaica would 
register a "yes" vote on the United Nations General Assembly 
Resolution seeking to lift the decades-old blockade.  Anthony 
Hylton, Member of Parliament in the opposition People's National 
Party  (PNP) and the opposition's spokesperson on foreign affairs 
and trade said, "We urge the Parliament through this resolution to 
send a message to President (Barack) Obama and the progressive 
forces within his administration and the U.S. Congress that we 
share their determination and will to reset the policies on Cuba." 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) There have been no resolutions in the Jamaican parliament 
condemning human rights abuses in Cuba. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Post is not aware of any high level diplomatic visits 
other than PM Golding attending the Third CARICOM/CUBA  Summit 
which began on December 8, 2008 in Cuba, and the June  15 visit led 
by Opposition Leader and People's National Party  (PNP) President 
Portia Simpson Miller for three-days to Cuba (reftels B and C). 
The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez visited 
Jamaica in May to meet with Dr. Baugh. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett said  during a 
speech at the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) on  May 12 that Cuba 
has the potential to become a significant  player in global tourism 
and Jamaica stands to gain from partnership with the Caribbean 
Island.  Jamaica signed a tourism MOU with Cuba for joint 
designation marketing, with the possibility of joint airlift 
arrangements.  (NOTE:  Bartlett has told Emboffs that he does not 
see Cuba as a competitive threat to Jamaica's tourism prospects 
even if there is a change in U.S. policy which would allow any U.S. 
Citizen to travel freely to Cuba.  END NOTE). 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Jamaica-Cuba Eye Care Project provided eye care 
screening from April 27 to June 12. The program offers service 
around the island and claims to have provided eye screening to 
10,125 people and provided 573 surgeries, mostly for cataracts. 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Post is unaware of any specific Jamaican investments in 
Cuba or any Jamaican firm with a commercial presence in Cuba. Post 
is not aware of participation by host country businesses in the 
Havana Trade Fair. However, Jamaicans generally oppose U.S. policy 
towards Cuba, which hampers post's efforts to gather accurate 
investment data. 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) In regard to bilateral agreements, there are no new items 
since the framework agreements for bilateral cooperation signed in 
May 2008 (reftels).  There is also a  CARICOM-Cuba Trade and 
Economic Cooperation Agreement signed July 5, 2000 (Jamaica is a 
CARICOM member).  Cuba remains a significant export market for 
Jamaica, with exports of nearly USD 7.78 million for 2008. 
Jamaican exports include pig feed, garments, and scrap metal. 
Imports from Cuba include copper, cement, clay construction 
 
materials, and cigars. The GOJ, through the Export-Import Bank, has 
an established line of credit with Banco Nacional de Cuba in order 
to facilitate exports. 
 
 
 
¶8. (C) Although Cuban political involvement in Jamaica was strong 
at one time, it now has dwindled. Historically, Jamaica Labour 
Party (JLP) Governments have been less sympathetic to the Cuban 
regime that those of the opposition People's National Party (PNP). 
The end of Fidel Castro's control of Cuba appears to be leading to 
closer ties with the Government of Jamaica (GOJ).  The Cuban 
government has continued to provide significant social support 
through educational scholarships. 
 
 
 
¶9. (C) Post continues to believe that suspension of the right to 
bring action in U.S. courts against entities and nationals 
trafficking in confiscated properties in Cuba is necessary to U.S. 
interests. Singling out Jamaican entities or nationals for 
prosecution would be counterproductive in achieving other USG 
objectives. In Post's view, proceeding with the implementation of 
Title III of the Libertad Act would seriously complicate, and 
perhaps even compromise, our efforts in areas of agreement. 
Actions against Jamaican nationals would likely provoke a strong 
response from GOJ. 
Parnell