US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON465

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, JM 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA COAST GUARD INAUGURATES NEW 
FACILITY 
 
 
1. In a brief ceremony on 16 February, attended by 
the top officials in the Jamaican security 
establishment, the Jamaica Defense Force Coast 
Guard (JDFCG) dedicated a new station at Black 
River on the southwest coast of Jamaica.  This 
facility will be manned by both the JDFCG and a 
contingent of the JCF Marine Police, with 
responsibility for maritime law enforcement and 
search and rescue in a region suspected of being a 
major artery for drug trafficking from South 
America to the U.S.  The attendees included the 
Minister of National Security, Chief of Staff, 
Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), Commissioner, Jamaica 
Constabulary Force (JCF), Charge' D'Affaires, U.S. 
Embassy Kingston as well as other U.S. Embassy, 
JDF and JCF staff and Jamaican press officials. 
 
2. According to the Minister of National Security, 
the principal speaker at the event, this facility 
is the first of its kind on the south coast and 
will compliment the Government of Jamaica's 
efforts at Pedro Cay, some 60 nautical miles to 
the south of Jamaica.  A planned station was 
destroyed during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 
thus delaying the process.  The facility, located 
on privately owned property on the southernmost 
point in Black River, was made available by a 
prominent Jamaican businessman from the area.  The 
actual structure, a 40 foot container-shaped, 
prefabricated building, was made possible by a 
joint USG effort with funding from the Narcotics 
Affairs Section. JDF Engineer Corps built the 
foundation and completed the assembly of the 
building. 
 
Comment:  JDFCG have shown determination, and 
ingenuity in the pursuit of their maritime 
interdiction mandate.  They have completed repairs 
to vessels on a shoestring and put them back into 
service in record time.  The quick action to put 
this new station into operation speaks volumes for 
the JDFCG's commitment to its law enforcement 
mission.   The presence of the JDF Chief of Staff 
and the JCF Commissioner signals perhaps a renewed 
effort to cooperate in the mutual interest of 
Jamaica.  Post is optimistic about the results 
this joint law enforcement effort can achieve. 
End comment. 
 
TIGHE