0 131400Z DEC 78
FM CARACAS (89-4) (P)
TO DIRECTOR (89-4286) ROUTINE 298
BT
UNCLAS EFTO
RYMUR.
Rebutels, December 6, & December 8, 1978.
American Embassy, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, has been advised that bank records in Trinidad and Tobago are not repeat not public records and can only be obtained by court order.
Members of People’s Temple (PT) who arrived in Trinidad on “Albatross III” on purchasing trip prior to Jonestown incident recently informed Embassy that an account for approximately sixty thousand dollars (TT) had been opened at Barclays Bank, Port of Spain. Purpose of account was allegedly to cover purchases and expenses related to the “Albatross III” and authorized signatory was Helen Swinney, one of four members of PT who arrived on board the vessel. They claimed that the account was closed on December 8, and they professed to have no knowledge of any other accounts in Trinidad.
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PAGE TWO (CAR 89-4) UNCLAS EFTO
For Georgetown: According to Richard Janaro, purchasing agent for PT on board the “Albatross III,” Paula Adams and [name deleted] handled all external accounts for the PT. They purportedly opened the account through a transfer with Barclays in Georgetown.
Armed and dangerous.
BT