Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 15294 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
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 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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 Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai 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 Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
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 Mission Geneva 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 Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
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
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
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 Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA AID ATRN AND ADANA ADCO APEC ARABL ADPM ANARCHISTS AADP ANET ABUD AL AGAO AMED AY AORG ASEAN AO ARF AGRICULTURE AINF AROC ACABQ APCS AODE AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BH BO BE BTIO BP BIDEN BC BILAT BMGT BX BBG BF BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CM CONS CDC CR CW CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CBE CARSON COPUOS CAPC COM COE CACS CIVS CTR COUNTER CFED CV CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DOMESTIC DK DE DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ERNG ECONOMY ELECTIONS EXIM ENERG ECIP EREL EK EDEV ECOSOC EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS EUREM EFINECONCS EINVEFIN ECA EDU ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAO FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FM FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GCC GV GL GOV GOI GF GH GANGS GE GTMO GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HURI HU HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ID ITPGOV ITALIAN ISCON ICRC ICAO IFAD IPR IRAQ INMARSAT ICJ INTERNAL ITRA ILC IQ INDO IO IRS IIP IEFIN ICTY IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHNNIE JOSEPH JAMES JOHN JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSTC KICC KIRC KIDE KNUC KSEO KCFE KPWR KSAF KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHLS KOCI KMPI KPAONZ KNAR KPRP KHDP KNPP KTBT KMCC KPRV KHIV KTRD KTAO KHSA KWAC KJUST KBCT KENV KAWK KFSC KX KMRS KCRCM KSCI KACT KVRP KBTS KO KVIR KMFO KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KPOA KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LTTE LU LO LA LI LG LH LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MCC MCA MIL MTCR MEPP MG ML MAPP MU MAR MZ MD MP MR MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NP NA NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NR NATOIRAQ NE NGO NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OPAD ODIP OSCI OFDP OSHA OHUM OIE OFFICIALS OVIPPRELUNGANU OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PNAT PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ PRELPK PAIGH PO PROG PMIL POLITICAL PJUS PDOV PAO PINO PTE PARMS PG PRAM PREO PGOF PTERE PSI PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE RO RELAM ROOD REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SF SEN SN SC SMIL SCRM STEINBERG SENVSXE SARS SL SAARC SCRS SWE SG SNARIZ SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TP TZ TN TC TF TR TT TK TRAD TD TL TV TWI TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TRT TINT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UA USPS UNSCR UNHRC UNESCO UNFICYP USAID UV UNMIC UNCHR UNHCR USUN UNDP USOAS USGS USNC UNEP UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VISIT VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XB XU XE XV XZ XY XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZK ZO ZL ZB ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08KINGSTON280, JAMAICA: MARCH POLITICAL ROUNDUP

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.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
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. #08KINGSTON280.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08KINGSTON280 | 2008-04-03 13:25 | 2011-06-06 09:30 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Kingston

`

    VZCZCXRO2260
    PP RUEHGR
    DE RUEHKG #0280/01 0941325
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 031325Z APR 08
    FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6148
    INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINGSTON 000280

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    WHA/CAR FOR JTILGHMAN
    TREASURY FOR SARA GRAY

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI ECON EAIR JM XL
    SUBJECT: JAMAICA: MARCH POLITICAL ROUNDUP

    REF: A. 07 KINGSTON 1301
         ¶B. KINGSTON 277
         ¶C. KINGSTON 263
         ¶D. 07 KINGSTON 1336
         ¶E. 07 KINGSTON 1803

    Summary
    ---------

    ¶1. (SBU) The current Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) led
    government continues to press forward, albeit at a snail's
    pace.  When the JLP released their manifesto, during the
    campaign for the national elections last summer, it was full
    of promises for innovations and reform proposals (Ref A).
    Now, with no relief in sight for rising prices, falling
    exchange rates, near record crime rates, and the distraction
    of implementing their first budget as a ruling party in
    almost 20 years, the JLP faces many obstacles.

    Early Promises Kept
    --------------------

    ¶2. (U) Since Prime Minister Bruce Golding (PM Golding) led
    the JLP to victory in September 2007, there has been progress
    on some fronts.  Most notably in the promises of free tuition
    at public primary and secondary schools, and starting on
    April 1, free basic access to health care at government
    hospitals and clinics.  What remains to be seen is how well
    this implementation is undertaken, whether the budget will be
    able to continue to support these institutions without the
    help of user fees, and whether or not the people of Jamaica
    are really getting valuable service from these government
    institutions. However, recent success in tax collection,
    including extensive media coverage of prominent citizens
    brought before the court to explain their tax arrears, are a
    positive sign that the budget may be able to provide the
    necessary funding for key programs (Ref B).

    ¶3. (U) The abolition of school tuition fees was a key JLP
    election promise and was widely promoted in the media in the
    run-up to the election.  Thus it was unsurprising, especially
    since the election took place right before the start of the
    new school year, that the JLP was quick to act on it.
    However, the public school system is still under fire for
    high illiteracy rates, high failure rate on standardized
    testing, and churning out high numbers of students with no
    job skills.  The Ministry of Education has recently announced
    plans to hold back students unable to pass the Grade Six
    Achievement Test (GSAT).  The early feedback on the plan is
    mixed, as an earlier proposal using the Grade Four Literacy
    Test was supposed to identify children at risk of failing and
    provide additional instruction.  Unfortunately, no additional
    funding or hiring of teachers has been put in place.  So
    while the standardized testing helps identify struggling
    students, they are not receiving substantive assistance to
    overcome their weaknesses.

    ¶4. (U) April 1 marks the second venture into the world of
    free access to essential services with the abolition of most
    user fees for basic health care at public medical
    institutions.  As the first step in the process, the
    Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has allocated an additional J$
    1.7 billion (approximately USD 24 million) for the first year
    of implementation.  Time will tell whether an already
    strained and under-funded sector can handle the additional
    load without breaking.

    Budget and Economy Woes
    -------------------------

    ¶5. (U) Since the recent tabling of the budget in Parliament,
    issues of balancing debt repayment and allocating funding for
    key projects is in the forefront of the GoJ,s focus (Ref B).
     The heavy burden of debt keeps PM Golding and his Cabinet
    from making more improvements to the infrastructure and from
    implementing many reforms they would like to enact.  Rising
    prices for most staples has led to inflation worries and made
    labor negotiations for public sector workers and unions more
    polarized than usual.  Compounding the budget woes and red
    ink in the GoJ coffers is the national airline, Air Jamaica
    (Air J) Not only is the well publicized search for a private
    buyer a major distraction, but the struggle with labor issues
    caused a one-day demonstration when all Air J flight
    attendants called in sick which forced the cancellation of
    all outbound flights on March 25 (Ref C).

    Soaring Crime Rates
    --------------------

    ¶6. (U) Jamaica continues its run to become the murder capital
    of the world.  As of March 31, there has been only one period
    of more than 24 hours without a reported murder on the
    island.  According to media reports the police have
    documented at least 350 murders since 2008 began, putting the
    country right on pace to equal or exceed last year's total of
    over 1500 people.  In a recent press interview, new
    Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin expressed concern at
    the continued high rates of major crimes and said that
    analysis of the numbers and potential causes was underway by
    the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

    ¶7. (SBU) The continuing trend of murders on a daily basis is
    putting severe strain on the JCF and the Ministry of National
    Security (MNS).   When Poloff recently approached a senior
    technical staffer in MNS for details on anti-corruption
    efforts, and she complained that she was spending all her
    time either in meetings with high level government officials
    to discuss the crime rate or dealing with issues within the
    ministry and their reform efforts.  Other senior police
    officers admitted that while they were trying to focus on
    issues such as corruption, intellectual property rights, and
    human trafficking, that it was hard to find enough time and
    resources due to the demand to deal with the murders and
    other serious crimes.

    Election Petitions and the Slim Majority
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶8. (SBU) Another area of concern which potentially might
    complicate PM Golding's ability to push through some reforms
    is the slim majority of the JLP in Parliament.  Since the JLP
    has only a razor-thin 32-28 majority, Golding must walk a
    fine line to keep all of his own party members onboard with
    the proposals (Ref D).  He has not been able to have a
    cabinet of true loyalists because of the need to satisfy
    other elements of the party in the distribution of power and
    portfolios.  Some of the current struggles faced by the GoJ
    are partially due to the lack of leadership on the part of
    some ministers.  To date, all major reforms implemented in
    crime fighting and the JCF have been spearheaded by the
    dynamic Hardley Lewin, Commissioner of Police (Ref E).

    ¶9. (SBU) The JLP cause took another blow on March 29, when
    Supreme Court Judge Lloyd Hibbert ruled that People's
    National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament (MP) for East
    Hanover should continue to serve the people.  JLP candidate
    Barrington Gray had challenged the vote count, filing an
    election petition stating that the voters were
    disenfranchised when ballots that were improperly torn by the
    presiding election officer could not be counted.

    Ambassador Meets with Minister of State
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶10. (U) On March 31 Minister of State and MP Robert Montague
    met with Ambassador Johnson.  During the meeting he revealed
    the JLP plans for reforms in local government and stated that
    his current position was established as a two-year project.
    After two years the responsibilities for local government
    will be passed on to the regional parish councils and city
    mayors.  Among the many proposed reforms for local government
    are:

    -- Entrenching local government in the Constitution

    -- Implementing recommendations in the National Advisory
    Council 2006 report

    -- Strengthening accountability, transparency, and probity in
    the local authorities

    -- Developing a prototype of the ideal local authority

    -- Strengthening community based organizations

    -- Establishing a Local Parish Public Accounts Committee in
    all 15 parishes

    -- Identifying and dedicating a percentage of the national
    budget to local government

    Analysis
    ---------

    ¶11. (SBU) While March was not a month of big announcements or
    change in the GoJ, the JLP-led government continues to press
    forward with their reform plans.  Preparing the annual budget
    and beginning the budget debates in Parliament is taking up
    most of the government's focus at the moment.  At the same
    time, the continued rise in violent crimes, especially
    murders, is keeping many of the government on the defensive.

    ¶12. (SBU) The government is also pushing to bolster the
    tourism industry, which is not an easy task with the U.S.
    economy in a downward trend.  There is a renewed focus now on
    attracting visitors from Canada and the EU, especially Spain,
    with the influx of Spanish owned resorts.  However, selling
    foreigners on visiting Jamaica is not an easy task when the
    media is filled with reports of crime, murder, and
    corruption.  Also, the one day sick-out by Air J,s flight
    attendants which delayed the return flights of many tourists
    did not improve Jamaica's image either (Ref B).

    ¶13. (SBU) The GoJ needs to address its image and needs to
    continue to improve the overall quality of life here on the
    island.  Until the crime and corruption issues begin to wane,
    there will always be a large segment of tourists afraid to
    take a chance on vacationing in Jamaica.   The government
    also needs to rid itself of the debt ridden national airline,
    and hopes that a private investor can improve the image of
    Air J and use it to grow the tourist market locally.  The JLP
    appear to be on the right track to improving governance in
    Jamaica, but whether these reforms will have staying power or
    long term effect is still unknown.
    JOHNSON

`