

Currently released so far... 12646 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AEMR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
ACOA
ASIG
AADP
AGR
ANET
ADPM
AMCHAMS
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AGMT
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BT
BP
BX
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CR
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CFED
CODEL
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CARSON
COPUOS
CIA
CL
CN
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
EPET
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
ENIV
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ENVR
ESENV
ENNP
ERNG
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
EXIM
ELECTIONS
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IT
IO
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IDP
IGAD
ILC
ITRA
ICTR
ITU
IBET
ITF
INRA
INRO
INTELSAT
IEFIN
IRC
IRAQI
ITALY
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INRB
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KSEP
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KIRF
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KSEO
KVPR
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KO
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCGC
KVIR
KFSC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KX
KMFO
KR
KMOC
KRIM
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KPAI
KICA
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MARAD
MG
MTRE
MASC
MW
MRCRE
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NGO
NR
NATIONAL
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OECD
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PDOV
PHUMPGOV
PCI
PTBS
PEL
PG
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
POGOV
POV
PRAM
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PMIL
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PRL
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
ROOD
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SPCE
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SNARCS
SH
SAARC
STEINBERG
SG
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SWE
SHI
SEN
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
TF
THPY
TP
TBID
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UNMIK
UY
UNCHR
UNO
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCND
UNCHC
UNCSD
USUN
USOAS
UNFCYP
USNC
UNIDROIT
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BRIDGETOWN637, BARBADOS FOREIGN MINISTER ON HAITI, TRADE, AND UN
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BRIDGETOWN637.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06BRIDGETOWN637 | 2006-04-12 20:08 | 2011-04-18 20:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bridgetown |
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHWN #0637/01 1022008
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 122008Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2281
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0060
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000637
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR-VLOPEZ;SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR ETRD EINV EAIR UNSC BR CH CS HA
VE, XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS FOREIGN MINISTER ON HAITI, TRADE, AND UN
REFORM
REF: BRIDGETOWN 628
Classified By: Ambassador Mary Kramer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Dame Billie Miller and
members of her staff held a candid question and answer
session with Barbados-based Ambassadors, revealing Caribbean
views on Haiti, trade, and UN reform. On Haiti, Miller
encouraged the U.S. and Brazil to remain engaged, while
committing to a greater CARICOM role in rebuilding Haitian
civil society. She also promised greater Haitian involvement
in CARICOM after President-Elect Rene Preval's inauguration.
On trade, Miller said she would push hard for a waiver from
the WTO so the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) can
continue (reftel). Other MFA staff then elucidated Barbadian
positions on trade in services, security requirements as a
trade barrier, and CARICOM trade agreements with Costa Rica,
Cuba, and Venezuela. On UN reform, CARICOM remains divided.
Some member states support only India and Brazil for Security
Council membership while others support the full G-4 slate,
including Germany and Japan. End Summary.
¶2. (U) Following an April 7 breakfast meeting at the Hilton
for Barbados-based Ambassadors (reftel), Foreign Minister
Dame Billie Miller moved the group to a meeting room and
opened the floor to questions. In an open and forthright
discussion, she expressed her views on Haiti, trade issues,
and UN reform. Also present from the Barbados MFA were
Minister of State Kerrie Symmonds, MFA Permanent Secretary
(PS) Ambassador Teresa Marshall, MFA Deputy PS Charles
Burnett, MFA PS for Trade Samuel Chandler, and an MFA
notetaker. In addition to Ambassador Kramer, Ambassadors or
High Commissioners representing Brazil, China, Costa Rica,
Cuba, the UK, and Venezuela attended. Canada was represented
by DCM Fred Jacques.
----------------------
CARICOM Views on Haiti
----------------------
¶3. (C) The Brazilian Ambassador began the discussion, asking
for CARICOM's position on Haiti. FM Miller responded that
Secretary Rice had assured CARICOM Foreign Ministers during
SIPDIS
their March 21-22 meeting in the Bahamas that the USG is
prepared to "stay the course" in Haiti. Miller said the USG
position was good news and important to know, adding that now
more than ever in Haiti all are needed. The FM believes
CARICOM will welcome Haitian President-Elect Rene Preval to
their Heads of Government (HOG) meeting in St. Kitts in July,
assuming Haitian parliamentary elections go forward as
planned so that an inauguration can take place. (Note:
Miller did not say whether or not Preval could attend the
July HOG meeting if he has not been sworn in by then. End
Note.)
¶4. (C) Miller said CARICOM Foreign Ministers plan to take up
the Haiti question at their April 24-25 meeting in Grenada.
Discussion there will identify areas of assistance, e.g.,
building civil institutions. Miller remarked that CARICOM
has great potential for assisting Haiti and wants very much
to be engaged in that country. At the Grenada meeting,
Miller plans to push for all CARICOM countries that can
assist Haiti to do so now. She pointed out that CARICOM
countries such as Barbados that have a strong history of
stability, democracy, and rule of law should provide Haiti
with technical assistance in improving civil institutitions.
Miller characterized current Haitian civil institutions as
weak and corrupt, noting that any democracy in Haiti will
remain weak and corrupt as well if the institutions do not
improve.
¶5. (C) The Foreign Minister said Haiti has remained at the
table for CARICOM trade negotiations throughout the
post-Aristide period. She reminded the group that Haiti has
a population of 8 million people and the rest of CARICOM
together has less than 6 million, so all members stand to
benefit from trade with this large block of the regional
market in the future. Miller said Barbados is eager to
welcome Haiti to all the tables of CARICOM. She said Haiti
will be categorized as the poorest of the poor in the world
of trade and assistance, so the country will need funds
available for a number of initiatives; CARICOM cannot afford
to help Haiti without financial assistance from the
international community.
¶6. (C) Miller noted that the Foreign Minister from Brazil
will be at the CARICOM Foreign Ministers' meeting in Grenada
to hear how CARICOM will become re-engaged in Haiti. Miller
welcomed Brazil's participation and reminded the Brazilian
Ambassador that Haiti needs long-term military assistance.
Miller warned that Brazil must not "fold the tents after the
election" and withdraw troops from Haiti.
-----------------
WTO Waiver on CBI
-----------------
¶7. (C) The Cuban Ambassador expressed interest in CARICOM's
various trade partnerships and negotiating arenas, in
particular, Partial Scope Agreements (PSA) and the Caribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI) with the U.S. Miller responded that
the CBI has been around for many years, and was probably
meant to be more helpful to Central America, perhaps also to
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, than to the Caribbean. She
reminded the group that the Caribbean's trade relationship
with the U.S. is more valuable than the region's trade with
either India or China. For that reason, CARICOM must have a
renewal of CBI, but such a renewal requires a waiver from the
WTO. Miller remarked that CARICOM understands the opposition
to the waiver from China, India, and Pakistan, but believes
an exception for small developing countries must be
available.
¶8. (C) Miller observed that the developed countries have had
a good 60 years to prepare themselves for free trade and now
make the rules. CARICOM countries are simply fighting to
save their trading space - hence their fight for the CBI
waiver with the WTO. Miller offered to discuss any measure
that might appease those opposed to a CBI waiver. (Note:
Miller told the Ambassador privately that the Chinese "owe"
Barbados for all the favorable deals their state construction
company has won - and will continue to win - in Barbados.
End Note.) Miller noted that the CARICOM Heads had agreed to
move forward with PSAs (including with the U.S.) to benefit
Trinidad and Tobago's energy exports. Miller said the U.S.
currently does not have PSAs in the region but is fond of
PSA-type agreements.
--------------------------------------------
Desired Future for Regional and Global Trade
--------------------------------------------
¶9. (C) Ambassador Kramer asked FM Miller to share CARICOM's
vision of a desired future for regional and global trade.
The Foreign Minister responded that for over 300 years
Barbados has never openly traded sugar. Her country has
always had preferential treatment; sugar has almost always
been subsidized. Miller said Barbados has determined that
sugar is not the way forward; instead, the service industry
represents the most promising future. Though some CARICOM
countries have continued to rely on agriculture, she gave the
examples of sugar producers in Guyana, Belize, and Suriname,
now being undercut by Brazilian competition.
¶10. (C) Miller contrasted the limited negative impact to
Barbados from losing sugar preferences with the serious
economic hardship visited upon Dominica as a result of the
loss of preferential treatment for its banana exports. The
least developed of the Eastern Caribbean states is
constrained in switching to tourism because Dominica's
geography makes the construction of a large-scale airport
difficult. Miller also highlighted the vulnerability of the
region to hurricane damage, pointing to the overnight
destruction of the total GDP of Grenada from Hurricane Ivan
in September 2004. The region depends on outside assistance
to recover from such economic setbacks.
------------------------------------------
The Future of Barbados - Trade in Services
------------------------------------------
¶11. (C) Miller then deferred to Minister of State in the MFA
(specializing in trade issues) Kerrie Symmonds to speak on
trade in services. Symmonds put forth trade in services as
the way of the future for Barbados. He illustrated how the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), with its
liberalized trade in services, will serve as a sort of
proving ground for competition in world markets. Symmonds
said service providers (such as accountants) must receive
accreditation to compete in the U.S. market; this
certification includes accreditation at the federal, state,
and local level. He also said the CSME "Competition
Commission" will measure how well service providers meet
international standards. He quipped that the new CSME
structure makes CARICOM members the domestic market: there
are no longer separate economies.
-------------------------------------
Security Requirements a Trade Barrier
-------------------------------------
¶12. (C) The PS for Trade, Samuel Chandler, entered the
discussion, noting how security regulation and requirements
have added cost to both exporters and governments. Miller
remarked on all the camera equipment at the port and airport,
saying, "These are not one-off expenses, they are recurring
expenses, but without them one risks the loss of
international access for the port and the airport." Chandler
continued to discuss how security requirements have become
trade barriers, both for tourists and the private sector. He
observed that smaller economies must be more stringent with
security because of the potential of total wipeout, using the
example of how Avian Influenza could devastate the chicken
industry. For this reason, Chandler said governments like
Barbados' are careful and take a long time to implement new
security measures. The PS also reminded the group that no
bilateral agreement of a CARICOM member state is possible
without notification of all other members.
--------------------------------------------- ---
Status of Costa Rican and Cuban Trade Agreements
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶13. (C) The Costa Rican Ambassador asked the Foreign Minister
about the status of CARICOM's trade agreements with Costa
Rica and Cuba, recently passed in the Barbados Parliament.
PS for Trade Chandler indicated that the two measures
affecting Cuba and Costa Rica simply gave legal status in
Barbados to certain CARICOM agreements. (Note: Trade
agreements negotiated at the CARICOM level must still gain
parliamentary approval in each member state to become active.
End Note.) These agreements only await the Governor
General's signature to be operational - meaning certain Costa
Rican and Cuban goods enter Barbados duty-free. Chandler
noted that the parties must still work out regulatory
procedures such as certain phyto-sanitary standards, and that
these regulations, while outside the realm of trade policy
agreements, must be observed.
-------------------------
CARICOM - Venezuela Trade
-------------------------
¶14. (C) The Venezuelan Ambassador asked for an update on her
country's request to CARICOM for a full scope agreement.
Chandler said CARICOM already exports to Venezuela duty- and
tax-free. He said CARICOM recognizes that the Venezuela
agreement is asymmetric (providing benefits to CARICOM but
none to Venezuela), but noted there is not yet a formal
request from the Venezuelan side for the full scope
agreement. Chandler noted that Venezuela has serious
phyto-sanitary issues as well that could complicate
negotiations.
---------------------
United Nations Reform
---------------------
¶15. (C) The Venezuelan Ambassador then asked for Barbados and
CARICOM views on UN reform. FM Miller said Barbados and
CARICOM support UN reform and believe it is needed but only
if it means larger voices for small and developing countries.
She then deferred to MFA Deputy PS Charles Burnett, recently
returned from New York, where Security Council reform
dominated the UN agenda. Burnett explained that CARICOM
would support expansion, both permanent and nonpermanent, but
that the UNSC expansion must include both the developed and
the developing world.
¶16. (C) The Deputy PS reported that the G-4 resolution
confronted the issue of four countries seeking UNSC expansion
at the permanent level, but said this proposal divided
CARICOM. Burnett explained that some CARICOM countries are
for Brazilian and Indian membership on the council as
developing countries and others support the entire slate, to
include Japan and Germany. Then the issue of the veto arose:
CARICOM saw the veto issue as leading to two levels of
membership - one with veto and one without. He stated that
the U.S. held views very strongly and they were clearly and
forcefully articulated. Burnett recounted that, at one
point, it appeared the G-4 resolution would move forward with
support from France and the UK, but the "Asia dynamic"
between China and Japan resulted in its collapse.
¶17. (C) The Deputy PS also described the course-changing
influence on CARICOM representatives of the African Union
(AU) resolution (no permanent member recommendation, no
veto), after which the Africans disagreed among themselves.
Burnett allowed as how in the later stages of the UN reform
discussions, CARICOM envoys just monitored the debate as its
members could not agree on a single position.
-------
Comment
-------
¶18. (C) Such a frank and wide-ranging discussion between the
Barbados Government and senior diplomats is extremely rare.
The Barbadians normally hold embassies at arm's length,
insisting on a rigorous adherence to protocol that stifles
open discussion. Barbados and FM Miller in particular are
CARICOM leaders in many areas of foreign affairs, and her
views on Haiti and trade likely hold true for most CARICOM
members.
KRAMER