US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON1342

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001342 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (BNICHOLS), (BENT) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KCRM, JM 
SUBJECT: DIRECTOR FOR CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS MEETS WITH JLP 
DEPUTY LEADER 
 
REF: KINGSTON 01258 
 
Classified By: CDA Ronald Robinson for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) Visiting WHA/CAR Office Director Brian Nichols, 
accompanied by poloff, met on May 10 with James Robertson, 
Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and Member of 
Parliament for Western St. Thomas.  Robertson offered his 
views on the recent spate of police killings in Kingston, JLP 
leader Bruce Golding's first month as Leader of the 
Opposition, and the party's priorities for Jamaica's future. 
End Summary. 
 
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Violence in West Kingston 
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2. (C) On May 10, visiting WHA/CAR Office Director Brian 
Nichols, accompanied by poloff, met with James Robertson, 
Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and Member of 
Parliament for Western St. Thomas.  Addressing the May 3 and 
4 murders of three police officers and a private security 
guard in Kingston (reftel), Robertson characterized the 
killings as stand-alone "acts of terrorism" perpetrated by an 
independent group of disaffected young men.  Robertson 
described the gunmen as "pot smoking" and "bible thumping," 
adding that two of the killers, who were shot to death by 
police shortly after murdering the policeman, both had their 
heads wrapped in the style of some Rastafarians. 
 
3. (C) Responding to the suggestion that the killings might 
have been politically motivated and linked to the JLP's 
fiercely loyal West Kingston constituency because one of the 
dead gunmen was identified as the brother of JLP-linked West 
Kingston gang leader Christopher "Dudus" Coke, Robertson 
denied any connection to the usual retributive gang violence 
that is common in inner city neighborhoods.  Supporting his 
theory that the murders were not sanctioned by organized 
criminals in West Kingston, he drew an analogy to the 
Columbine High School killings in Colorado, asserting that 
acts of violence can be planned and perpetrated without the 
knowledge or complicity of their families or communities. 
 
4. (C) To further support his claim, Robertson related a 
telephone call he received from the brother of the owner of 
Marksman Security, the private security company that employed 
the guard who shot and killed Christopher Coke's brother. 
The caller was concerned about rumors that, as the brother of 
the company's owner, he would be killed to avenge the death 
of Coke's brother.  After "making a few calls," Robertson 
assured the caller that no gangs were seeking to kill him out 
of retribution.  Instead, he said that the gangs intended to 
"deal with" the unruly assailants themselves.  (Note: 
Unbeknownst to Robertson, shortly after the killings, Charge 
received an urgent call from the Mexican DCM, who told him 
that the Jamaican owner of Marksman Security, fearing for his 
family's safety in the aftermath of the shootings, had 
requested a Mexican passport for his infant child (whose 
mother is a Mexican citizen) because he intended to take his 
family to the U.S. until the local situation settled down. 
Mexican DCM asked whether Embassy Kingston would then 
facilitate an urgent NIV issuance for the child so that the 
family could depart.  Post accommodated the request.  End 
Note.) 
 
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Golding's First Month as Leader 
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5. (C) Asked whether the newly installed Leader of the 
Opposition Bruce Golding would be able to control the 
violence in his West Kingston constituency, which some 
observers assert is intended to test Golding's resolve, 
Robertson expressed confidence that he would.  He disagreed, 
however, with Golding's recent public comments criticizing 
the police for unfairly stigmatizing his constituency. 
(Note: On May 8, Golding accused the JCF Deputy Commissioner 
for Crime, a senior British policeman on secondment to the 
JCF, of wrongly stigmatizing West Kingston in the matter. 
Golding was publicly criticized by the People's National 
Party (PNP) and news media for his comments.  End Note.) 
Robertson speculated that Golding was caught up in the moment 
when he defended his constituents by criticizing the police 
force.  He expressed regret at his party leader's handling of 
the situation, saying that Golding could have pandered to his 
constituents in private, without making controversial remarks 
to the media. 
6. (C) Golding was positive on Golding's performance in his 
first month as JLP leader.  He offered that, once the party 
recovers from Golding's recent damaging comments, Golding 
would continue to wage a strong campaign for the prime 
ministership.  Robertson opined that Minister of National 
Security Peter Phillips is the PNP's only serious contender 
to succeed P.J. Patterson, because he is the only one with 
the "strength" to win.  He added that Golding continues to 
distance himself from Robertson and other "Young Turks" 
within the party who helped to orchestrate Golding's rise to 
power.  Robertson explained that many of Golding's advisors 
fear him (Robertson) and his "reformist" colleagues because 
of the political power they wield (Note: Robertson and the 
group of "Young Turks" are credited with being largely 
responsible for Seaga's ouster.  End Note.).  Robertson 
further explained that he is feared by some for his suspected 
ties to illegal activities, including drug trafficking. 
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JLP Vision for the Future 
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7. (C) Asked to define his party's vision for the future of 
Jamaica, Robertson focused heavily on small-scale economic 
development and the creation of job opportunities for 
Jamaicans.  He said that, although Jamaica continues to 
attract large-scale development projects like hotels, none of 
them benefit the "small man," or common Jamaican.  Robertson 
cited the lack of activity in the country's secondary 
mortgage market as evidence of a widespread reluctance to 
invest domestically.  He stressed that only development at 
the community level will benefit all Jamaicans, and that the 
JLP would work toward that goal.  Without more employment 
options, he continued, Jamaican graduates of local and 
foreign universities would continue to seek employment 
abroad.  As an example, Robertson estimated that one half of 
his prep school class now lives outside of Jamaica.  He added 
that his party is ready to take over the government and begin 
making the right decisions to benefit the country.  He 
warned, however, that "you can't make the right decisions in 
Jamaica and stay in power." 
 
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Comment 
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8. (C) As in previous meetings, Robertson repeatedly 
mentioned that he has been branded with the suspicion of 
being involved in illicit activities.  (He is partially 
correct; "strong suspicion" might be a more accurate 
assessment.)  In truth, like many Jamaican politicians of 
whatever party affiliation, Robertson is known to associate 
with criminal elements.  The fact that both he and a fellow 
"Young Turk" JLP Deputy Leader, Horace Chang, carry the 
strong whiff of impropriety, probably has much to do with 
Golding's post-victory policy of keeping them at arms length. 
 Also, Robertson and Chang earned the enduring wrath of 
former Opposition Leader and Prime Minister Edward Seaga in 
their ruthless but effective campaign to unseat him, and 
Golding, who needs to reach out to the still-influential 
Seaga and his supporters to consolidate his own leadership of 
the JLP, cannot afford too close an association with 
"friends" like Robertson and Chang who carry so much baggage. 
 Interestingly, neither Robertson nor his reformist 
colleagues within the JLP have publicly objected to having 
been sidelined within the party by Golding in recent weeks. 
 
9. (C)  Comment (cont'd):  Robertson insisted that his 
underworld/garrison sources were unaware that the police 
killings would take place and were displeased with what 
transpired.  While his assertions track with some reports 
that West Kingston gang leaders are at odds over the murders 
of police, Robertson's claims seem an attempt to deflect 
criticism and stigmatization that is often directed toward 
West Kingston and its notorious, politically affiliated 
criminals.  End Comment. 
 
9. (U) This cable has been cleared by WHA/CAR Director Brian 
Nichols. 
ROBINSON