[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979GEORGE04076_e.html.]
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P 111100Z SEP 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0566
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 1 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 4076
FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
FI CHANNEL
E.O. 12065: GDS 9/10/85 (DWYER, RICHARD A) OR-M
TAGS: ASIG, GY
SUBJ: POST INSTPECTION MEMORANDUM
1. (LOU) THERE FOLLOWS THE POST INSPECTION MEMORANDUM FOR USE BY THE INSPECTION TEAM DUE TO ARRIVE GEORGETOWN OCTOBER 10. IN APPRECIATING THE LOCAL POLITICAL MILIEU IN WHICH WE ARE WORKING, INSPECTORS SHOULD REVIEW INTER ALIA GEORGETOWN 4038, 3866, 3659, 3553, AND 3322.
2. (C) KEY ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
A. THE WORSENING ECONOMIC CRISIS IN WHICH GUYANA FINDS ITSELF, GENERATED IN SUBSTANTIAL PART BY EXTERNAL FACTORS, IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM CONFRONTING THE GUYANESE. WHILE THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT HAS PROVED LARGELY INEPT IN DEALING EVEN WITH THOSE ASPECTS OF THE CRISIS SUSCEPTIBLE TO IMPORVEMENT THROUGH LOCAL EFFORTS, THE SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION GROUPS OFFER LITTLE REALISITC HOPE OF IMPORVEMENT. UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT BUT IS NOT NOW NOR IS IT LIKELY TO BE OF A MAGNITUDE SUFFICIENT TO REVERSE THE PRESENT DOWNWARD TREND IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. AS THE TREND CONTINUES, THE RESULTANT PRESSURE ON THE FRAGILE POLITICAL
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AND SOCIAL FABRIC WILL INCREASE.
B. PRIME MINISTER BURNHAM AND HIS GOVERNMENT ARE COMMITTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOCIALIST SOCIETY. THE PACE OF THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A SOCIALIST SOCIETY IS LIKELY TO QUICKEN — AS A PHILOSOPHIC PANACEA FOR PRESENT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS; AS A MEANS TO URSURP THE POLITICAL PROGRAMS OF THE MAJOR OPPOISITION GROUPS; AS A MEANS TO JUSTIFY INCREASING CENTRALIZATION OF AUTHORITY IN THE PRESENT RULING PARTY AND GOVERNMENT AND ASSURE ITS CONTINUANCE IN POWER. FURTHER NATIONALIZATIONS WHICH MIGHT WELL INCLUDE AMERICAN-OWNED FIRMS IS A DISTINT POSSIBILITY. THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT CODE PASSED EARLY IN 1979 APPEARS INCRESINGLY IRRELEVANT TO THE PRESENT THINKING OF THE GOV’T.
C. INTERNATIONALLY THE REGIME APPEARS LIKELY TO ASSOCIATE GUYANA WITH THOSE MEMBERS OF THE THIRD WORLD WHOSE POLICIES CLOSELY APPROACH THOSE OF CUBA AND THE SOVIET UNION WHICH WILL, IN TURN CAUSE GUYANESE FOREIGN POLICY TO DIVERGE EVEN FURTHER FROM US AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. SUCH A SHIFT WOULD BE BOTH COMPATIBLE WITH THE THINKING OF THE REGIME WHICH CONSIDERS THAT ITS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS STEM FROM THE “IMPERIALISTS” DOMINATION OF THE WORLD ECONOMY AND WITH THE POLITICAL TACTIC OF OUTFLANKING THE DOMESTIC OPPOSITION.
D. REGIONALLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTELY STRESSED TIS COMMITMENT TO THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CARICOM) A COMMITMENT WHICH THE UNITED STATES SHARES. IN ITS PRESENT TROUBLED STATE, HOWEVER, GUYANA HAS FEW IF ANY POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE.
E. WHILE GUYANA’S RELATIONS WITH ITS SURINAM, VENEZUELAN AND BRAZILIAN NEIGHBORS ARE CURRENTLY CORRECT IF NOT OVERLY CORDIAL, TERRITORIAL DISPUTES ARE
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PROBABLY ONLY TEMPORARILY QUIESCENT. A RAPID ACCELERATION OF GUYANA’S SHIFT TO THE LEFT, OR A BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER IN GUYANA, WOULD LIKELY BE SEVERELY DISQUIETING FOR BOTH LARGE NEIGHBORS.
F. FINALLY, THE QUEESTION OF THE DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN GUYANA IS LIKELY TO BECOME THE MOST SERIOUS BILATERAL PROBLEM IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
3. (C) THE STATE OF RELATIONS
A. AT THE MOMENT, OFFICIAL BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GUYANA RE NORMAL AND EVEN CORDIAL ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL. BUT THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT RECENTLY FELT IT NECESSARY TO CHALLENGE STRONGLY IMPORTANT GUYANESE POLICIES, E.G., WITH REGARD TO THIRD WORLD POLICY POSITIONS; THE ADVOCACY OF SOCIALISM; OR GUYANA’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. BILATERAL PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS ARE LIKELY TO LOOM LARGER SHOULD THE BURNHAM GOVERNMENT’S PRESENT POLICIES CONTINUE. ON THE OTHER HAND, GUYANA APPEARS TO WELCOME AND APPRECIATE AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND AMERICAN SUPPORT IN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
B. THE IMMEDIATE RELATIONSHIP CAN THEREFORE BE BEST DESCRIBED AS ESSENTIALLY SATISFACTORY BUT SOMEWHAT FRAGILE. THE BURNHAM GOVERNMENT WILL HESISTATE TO TAKE STEPS WHICH MIGHT SERIOUSLY OFFEND THE UNITED STATES, BUT THAT HESITATION WILL DISAPPEAR SHOULD IT SEEM THAT ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION MIGHT ENDANGER THE RULING PARTY’S CONTINUANCE IN POWER.
C. DAY-TO-DAY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE EMBASSY ARE EXCELLENT. SENIOR GUYANESE OFFICIALS ARE ALMOST UNIFORMLY ACCESSIBLE, HELPFUL, AND CORDIAL. THERE IS A LARGE RESEVOIR [RESERVOIR] OF GOODWILL TOWARDS AMERICANS AND THINGS AMERICAN ON A PERSONAL BASIS, STEMMING IN PART FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ARE FEW GUYANESE WITHOUT CLOSE FRIENDS OR
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FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0567
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 2 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 4076
FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
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RELATIVES LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE PERVASIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN GUYANA SUCH AS MUSIC, CINEMA, SPORTS, ETC.
4. (C) ACCOMPLISHMENT OF GOALS AND PRIORITIES
A. IMPROVED BILATERAL RELATIONS AS NOTED ABOVE, RELATIONS ARE EXCELLENT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL, PRESENTLY GOOD OVERALL, BUT INCREASINGLY FRAGILE.
B. HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE UNION FREEDOMS THERE IS NO QUESTIONS BUT THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN GUYANA HAS DETERIORATED OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT SEES ITS TACTICS IN THIS REGARD AS VITAL TO ITS CONTINUANCE IN POWER, BUT DOES ENDEAVOR, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO PUT A LEGAL FACADE ON ITS ACTIONS. NEVERTHELESS, THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BE CAREFUL FOR THE MOMENT NOT TO TOO BLATANTLY AND PUBLICLY TRANSGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, AND, COMPARED WITH MANY GOVERNMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ASIA THE OVERALL RECORD IS NOT BAD. IT IS THE TREND WHICH IS JUSTIFIABLY WORRISOME. THE CAUSE OF FREE AND DEMOCRATIC LABOR UNIONS IN GUYANA HAS BEEN SORELY BESET IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
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THE EMBASSY IS IN FREQUENT, CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF ALL MAJOR UNIONS AND THE TRADE UNION COUNCIL AND IS WELL INFORMED ON LABOR DEVELOPMENT. FALLING LIVING STANDARDS HAVE CAUSED ALL LABOR UNIONS NOT DIRECTLY DOMINATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BECOME INCREASINGLY MILITANT, HOWEVER, AND BY AUGUST OF 1979 THE GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO HAVE DECIDED TO BREAK THOSE UNIONS AND UNION LEADERS WHICH HAVE PARTICIPATED IN INDUSTRIAL ACTION WHICH THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS AS POLITICAL. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THE ALLEGED MANIPULATION OF LABOR UNREST TO TOPPLE THE JAGAN PPP GOVERNMENT WHICH BROUGHT HIM TO POWER IN 1964.
C. ACCESS TO BAUXITE AT REASONABLE PRICES SINCE 1977 THE AMBASSADOR AND THE EMBASSY HAVE ADVOCATED THE STOCKPILING OF CALCINED BAUXITE IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH WOULD SERVE SEVERAL PURPOSES: PURCHASES COULD BE MADE AT PRICES WHICH ARE UNLIKELY EVEN TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER; INSULATION FROM THE USE OF CALCINED BAUXITE SUPPLIES AS A POLITICAL WEAPON BY GUYANA(THE WORLD’S MAJOR PRODUCER); MUCH NEEDED IMMEDIATE CASH FLOW TO GUYANA WHICH COULD HELP OFFSET RISING PETROLEUM PRICES IN THE SHORT TERM; INSULATION FROM PRODUCTION FLUCTUATIONS; ETC.
A FIVE WEEK LONG STRIKE BY BAUXITE WORKERS IN JULY AND AUGUST OF THIS YEAR BROUGH US SUPPLIES OF CALCINED BAUXITE TO DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVELS FROM WHICH CONSIDERABLE TIME WILL BE REQUIRED TO RECOVER. AMERICAN BAUXITE CONSUMERS WERE IN ALMOST DAILY TOUCH WITH THE EMBASSY AND THE DEPARTMENT, SOME OF WHOM SUGGESTED THAT U.S. STEEL PRODUCTION MIGHT HAVE TO BE CURTAILED SHOULD THE STRIKE ENDURE MUCH LONGER.
IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE GUYANESE BAUXITE INDUSTRY TO RECOVER PREVIOUS LEVELS OF PRODUCTION. THE
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EMBASSY CONTINUES ITS ADVOCACY OF STOCKPILING BAUXITE IN THE US AS A PROGRAM OF POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO BOTH NATIONS.
D. DIMINUTION OF FOLW OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO THE US TO SOME DEGREE, USG AND GOG POLICIES CONCIDE ON THIS OBJECTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF EDUCATED, SKILLED, AND TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED GUYANESE THROUGH EMIGRATION. RADICAL ELEMENTS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT HAVE PROPOSED CERTAIN LIMITATIONS UPON THE PRESENT RELATIVELY FREE EMIGRATION WHICH MIGHT, IRONICALLY, RAISE HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONS FOR US. GUYANESE GOVERNMENT COOPERATION IN DETECTING FRAUDULENT VISA APPLICANTS HAS BEEN QUITE GOOD. THE CONSULAR SECTION’S OWN PROCEDURES APPEAR TO HAVE RESTRICTED FRAUD CASES INSOFAR AS WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE.
BUT THE MOST PRESSING NEED IS BETTER COOPERATION FROM THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE TO PROSECUTE AND DEPORT THOSE VERY FEW BLATANT ILLEGAL GUYANESE ALIENS IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH THE EMBASSY HAS REQUESTED IN THE BELIEF THAT THIS WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL DETERRENT FOR OTHERS. SEE CONSULAR SECTION BELOW.
E. HELPFUL GUYANESE ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO CARRY OUT THE “SHOTGUN” INSTRUCTIONS IT RECEIVES ON MYRIAD UNITED STATES INTERESTS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. FOR THE REASONS DISCUSSED ABOVE, HOWEVER, THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT REGARDS ITS OWN INTERESTS IN MANY INSTANCES AS IDENTICAL WITH THOSE OF THE THIRD WORLD. PERSUASION, HOWEVER RIGHTEOUS AND LOGICAL, IS THEREFORE A LIMITED TOOL. MORE SPECIFICITY IS REQUIRED, AS WELL AS AN OCCASIONAL STICK TO GO WITH THE CARROT.
F. CLARIFICATION OF GOG POLICIES ON PRIVATE FOREIGN INVESTMENT THE GUYANESE GOVERNMENT, AT SENIOR LEVELS, HAS FREQUENTLY REITERATED ITS WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT PRIVATE
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FOREIGN INVESTMENT ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS. AT THE SAME TIME, IT HAS TAKEN AN INCREASINGLY THREATENING POSTURE TOWARDS DOMESTIC PRIVATE ENTERPRISE (AND SOME PRESENT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AS WELL). ALTHOUGH THE USG IS ENCOURAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR INSOFAR AS POSSIBLE
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FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0568
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 3 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 4076
FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
FI CHANNEL
THROUGH USAID AND MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, A CLEAR-CUT GUYANESE GOVERNMET POLICY IS UNLIKELY TO BE DETERMINED UNTIL OTHER SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES WHICH THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS AS SUBSTANTIALLY MORE IMPORTANT ARE SETTLED.
G. COOPERATION ON AFTERMATH OF JONESTOWN TRAGEDY COOPERATION CONTINUES TO BE GENERALLY GOOD. THERE ARE SERIOUS HAZARDS FOR THE FUTURE, HOWEVER, SUCH AS THE TENOR OF THE WIDESPREAD AMERICAN MEDIAT ATTENTION WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE GENERATED ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGEDY; REVELATIONS FROM PRESENTLY CLOSELY HELD JONESTOWN DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY EMBARRASSING TO SENIOR GUYANESE OFFICIALS AND HENCE THE GOVERNMENT, ETC.
5. (C) MISSION MANGAEMENT THE EMBASSY HAS NO PROBLEMS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION BEYOND THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE. AT THE POLICY LEVEL ALL AGENCIES REPRESENTED IN GEORGETOW WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISSENTING POINTS OF VIEW. AS THE ECONOMY DETERIORATES AND THE MISSION BECOMES INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT UPON ITS OWN RESOURCES AND THE MAINTENANCE THEREOF, THE SUPPLY OF ROUTINE SERVICES TO
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OFFICES AND RESIDENCES BECOME SINCREASINGLY BURDENSOME. FOR EXAMPLE, THE EMBASSY CHANCERY, PHYSICALLY SEPARATE FROM THE CONSULAR SECTION, AID AND ICA HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY WITHOUT TELEPHONES FOR THREE WEEKS WITH NO FIRM REFLIEF YET IN SIGHT. THE VARIOUS UNITS HAVE ALSO BEEN OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS EACH OTHER.
STAFFING PROBLEMS, MENTIONED IN DETAIL UNDER ADMINISTRATION, ARE A SERIOUS AND CONSTANT PROBLEM, HAMPERING BOTH PRODUCTIVITY AND MORALE AS STAFF HAVE BEEN OBLIGED TO FOREGO LEAVES, ATTENDANCE AT OUT OF COUNTRY CONFERENCES, ETC.
OVERALL MORALE, NONETHELESS, REMAINS REASONABLY GOOD, DESPITE OR PERHAPS IN PART BECAUSE OF THE ISOLATION OF THE POST AND THE DAY TO DAY ANNOYANCES WHICH ALL STAFF FACE. BUT THIS REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION.
A. ADMINISTRATION
THE EMBASSY STAFFING PROBLEMS ARE APPARENT FROM THE FOLLOWING TABLE WHICH COVERS APPROXIMATELY THE LAST YEAR;
POSITION DEPARTED POSITION FILLED/ETA
ADMIN 7/16/78 10/17/78
GSO 8/4/79 10/79 (?)
VICE CONSUL 8/4/79 10/79 (?)
VICE CONSUL 4/4/79 1/80
VICE CONSUL NEW AUTH. 9/78 ?
DCM SECRETARY/ 4/15/79 9/9/79
BACK-UP C&R
(LOU) SECURITY: GEORGETOWN IS A HIGH CRIME AREA, AND BOTH CHANCERY AND CONSULAR SECTION ABUT ON TIGER BAY, ONE OF THE HIGHEST CRIME AREAS OF THE CITY. AFTER TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS VITALLY NEEDED SECURITY
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MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CHANCERY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE CONSULAR SECTION HAVE BEEN APPROVED. THE EMBASSY HAS NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT FUNDS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE IN FY 1979, HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH A HIGH PRIORITY HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR EARLY FY 1980.
(LOU) NEW CHANCERY: THE PRESENT CHANCERY IS AN ANTIQUATED WOODEN FIRE TRAP. THE EMBASSY IS PRESENTLY EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF PURCHASING LAND ADJACENT TO THE AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE (FBO) FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CHANCERY COMPOUND POSSIBLY CONVERTING THE RESIDENCE INTO A NEW CHANCERY. THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION WILL BE UNLIKELY TO COME ON THE MARKET AGAIN IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, AND RAPID AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS WILL BE REQUIRED.
)LOU) JAO: THE EMBASSY IS INCLINED TO FAVOR A JOINT ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION WITH USAID, ALTHOUGH THE LATTER CONSIDERS THAT A JAO IS UNLIKELY TO MAINTAIN PRESENT LEVELS OF SERVICE AT ANY SIGNIFICANT SAVING. AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY IS PROBABLY DESIRABLE, AS SUGGESTED BY THE EMBASSY IN ITS 1978 GORM SUBMISSION.
(U) WARELHOUSE: THE LEASE ON THE PRESENT BARELY ADEQUATE WAREHOUSE EXPIRES IN 1980 AND ITS RENEWAL IS UNCERTAIN. THE EMBASSY HAS PROPOSED BUILDING A WAREHOUSE ON USG OWNED LAND WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $40,000. FUNDS APPARENTLY CANNOT YET BE COMMITTED.
(B) (LOU) CONSULAR SECTION SECURITY WILL BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR THIS FOUR OFFICER BUSY SECTION UNTIL THE NEW SECURITY CONSTRUCTION IS FUNDED AND COMPLETED. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE VIOLENT CONFONTATIONS WITH CONSULAR OFFICERS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. A NEW WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTOR HAS CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF VISITORS ENTERING THE SECTION WITH CONCEALED FIREARMS. ONLY THE EXCELLENT COOPERATION OF ARA/EA AND PER IN SUPPLYING THE CONSULAR SECTION WITH TDY ANNUNITANTS FOR THE PAST FIFTEEN MONTHS HAS ALLOWED THE SECTION TO MEET
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ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. NEARLY ELEVEN MONTHS AFTER JONESTOWN THE EMBASSY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN A DETERMINATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT, DESPITE REPEATED INQUIRIES, ON THE DISPOSITION OF NEARLY ONE-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN NEGOTIABLE USG CHECKS AND THE PERSONAL EFFECTS OF DECEASED JONESTOWN RESIDENTS SCATTERED AMONG SOME 130 LIFT VANS SITTING ON VARIOUS WATERFRONT WHARVES.
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P 111100Z SEP 79
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0569
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 4 OF 4 GEORGETOWN 4076
FI CHANNEL
FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
INS COOPERATION IS A PREREQUISITE IN THOSE LIMITED NUMBER OF CASES OF KNOWN ILLEGAL ALIENS WHOSE DEPORTATION IF JUSTIFIED WOULD DISCORUAGE OTHER POTENTIAL ILLEGAL ALIENS. EMBASSY CABLES 1495, 2808 AND 3983 DEAL WITH ONE SUCH CASE TO WHICH NO RESPONSE HAS EVER BEEN RECEIVED.
C. (LOU) ECONOMIC-COMMERCIAL:
THIS ONE OFFICER SECTION OPERATES SOMMTHLY. COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED IN TH PRESENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, BUT SOME HAVE RESULTED IN AMERICAN SALES. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS THE GOG’S PROGRESS IN MEETING ITS IMF OBLIGATIONS IS MONITORED. A RECENTLY ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL NEWSLETER APPEARS TO BE GAINING ACCEPTANCE AND IS USEFUL IN PROMOTING AMERICAN ECONOMIC POLICES.
D. (LOU) POLITICAL/LABOR ALTHOUGH THIS IS A JUNIOR OFFICER ROTATIONAL POSITION ITS INCUMBENTS HAVE MADE INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM WELL-MAINTAINED CONTACTS WITH LABOR SOURCES. THE POSITION INCLUDES VARIED POLITICAL ALERT AND SCHEDULED REPORTING AS WELL AND, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, HAS SERVED AS A HAPPY COMBINATION OF TRAINING WITH SIGNIFICANT REPORTING REPSONSIBILITIES WHICH HAS
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BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
6. OTHER AGENCIES
A. (U) AIRD USAID PROGRAMS IN GUYANA ARE IN FULL HARMONY WITH OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. THEY ARE DIRECTED LARGELY TOWARDS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND FULLY MEET THE TERMS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE. THE RSUMPTION OF AID ACTIVITIES IN GUYANA, FOLLOWING THE IMPROVEMENT IN BILATERAL RELATIONS IN 1977, LED TO NEW PROGRAMS OF APPROXIMATELY $28 MILLION IN 1978. SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL PROGRAMS ARE AND WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE MODEST. USAID GEORGETOWN IS EXPECTED TO REACH ITS AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF TWELVE AMERICAN POSITIONS FOR THE FIRST IM LATE IN 1979.
B. (7) ICA ICA’S OPERATIONS IN GUYANA (TWO AMERICAN OFFICERS) ARE WELL ADAPTED TO BOTH POLICY OBJECTIVES AND LOCAL NEEDS. THE KENNEDY LIBRARY AND OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT LOCALLY AS THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION HAS CURTAILED OTHER INFORMATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. ICA’S WIDE RANGE OF CONTACTS OFTERN GENERATES VERY USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EMBASSY’S ANALYESE OF THE LOCAL SCENE.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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