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Relationship with Venezuela, Cuba at root of negative attitude — Paulwell
THE United States, Canadian and British governments had concerns about former energy minister Phillip Paulwell and expressed their unease to a former Cabinet colleague of his that he, and others like him who supported Portia Simpson Miller's presidential campaign for the then ruling People's National Party, "could hold sensitive positions or wield influence in her government".
The concern was expressed to Ambassador Anthony Hylton, who had visited a Canadian official on March 16, 2006, a day after the then US ambassador to Jamaica met with Simpson Miller at Jamaica House and sent a signal, but with restraint, because of Paulwell's presence at the meeting
According to a diplomatic cable filed by the US Embassy in Kingston and acquired by WikiLeaks, Hylton had visited the Canadian official to ask "whether the US ambassador and the British high commissioner had intended to convey a message to Simpson Miller".
The Canadian official, the cable said, "bluntly confirmed" to Hylton that all three missions in Jamaica had concerns about Paulwell.
In relation to the March 15 meeting at Jamaica House, the US Embassy said that "the ambassador encouraged Simpson Miller to select the best individuals possible for her Cabinet, but was constrained in how candid she could be about our concerns".
"We are nevertheless confident that the message registered, as Hylton subsequently asked the Canadians, disingenuously in our view, whether the ambassador was trying to signal concern," the cable said.
The ambassador was accompanied by two embassy officials, one of whom acted as notetaker.
According to the cable, US and British officials met on March 13, two days before the Jamaica House meeting, "to discuss mutual concerns over the possible inclusion of Paulwell in the new Cabinet, and how best to raise the issue with Simpson Miller in their respective meetings".
The British diplomat met with Simpson Miller on March 14 and subsequently briefed his American counterpart that "Paulwell and Hylton also sat in on that meeting... which similarly limited what he could say with Paulwell present".
Yesterday, when the Observer contacted Paulwell for a comment, he said, "My lawyers have advised me not to comment in this matter, and any mention of my name in any publication or media house could be considered an actionable offence."
However, he added: "I feel that any mention of my name in this matter stems from my relationship with the Venezuelan Government at the time."
His reference was to the PetroCaribe agreement established in June 2005, which allows Caribbean countries to purchase oil from Venezuela on conditions of preferential payments. These include reduced upfront payments, while the remainder is paid through a 25-year financing agreement at one per cent interest.
"I still maintain that PetroCaribe was good for Jamaica at the time and today," Paulwell said yesterday. "The allegations raised are ridiculous and nonsensical. Indeed, the test of time has proven them to be so, because there have been extensive investigations and witchhunting on behalf of the current Government which have found no shred of evidence of wrongdoing, because there is none. These people are engaged in rumour mongering.
"It is also my understanding that there is a negative attitude because of my relationship with both the Venezuelan and Cuban governments," he said, adding, "I make no apologies for my admiration for the support for Jamaica created under PetroCaribe. Were it not for PetroCaribe, Jamaica would be in a worse economic state. I have had no problem travelling to either the US, UK or Canada and I am treated well when I travel to these countries, which I do frequently."
The cable said that at the meeting with the US ambassador, "Simpson Miller indicated that she would not make wholesale changes until winning a popular mandate in a general election. She implied, but did not specifically state, that she would call early elections, noting that she did not want 'campaigning' to mar the March-April 2007 Cricket World Cup, and that she could not effect a number of Cabinet changes she hoped to make without an electoral mandate. Simpson Miller implied on several occasions that she would like to replace more ministers than was politically expedient, or possible".
The diplomatic cable said that Simpson Miller indicated that whereas her campaign slogan was 'Team Portia', she emphasised that she intended to govern inclusively as 'Team Jamaica', and to continue her campaign practice of not answering some critics' vitriolic political attacks in kind.
"Clearly with an eye on the general elections, she said she planned to spend as much time as her governing responsibilities allowed reaching out to Jamaicans on 'street corners and rural areas', and that she would require her ministers to maintain a more visible presence in the exercise of their portfolios," the cable said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1NqDPQua8
THE United States, Canadian and British governments had concerns about former energy minister Phillip Paulwell and expressed their unease to a former Cabinet colleague of his that he, and others like him who supported Portia Simpson Miller's presidential campaign for the then ruling People's National Party, "could hold sensitive positions or wield influence in her government".
The concern was expressed to Ambassador Anthony Hylton, who had visited a Canadian official on March 16, 2006, a day after the then US ambassador to Jamaica met with Simpson Miller at Jamaica House and sent a signal, but with restraint, because of Paulwell's presence at the meeting
According to a diplomatic cable filed by the US Embassy in Kingston and acquired by WikiLeaks, Hylton had visited the Canadian official to ask "whether the US ambassador and the British high commissioner had intended to convey a message to Simpson Miller".
The Canadian official, the cable said, "bluntly confirmed" to Hylton that all three missions in Jamaica had concerns about Paulwell.
In relation to the March 15 meeting at Jamaica House, the US Embassy said that "the ambassador encouraged Simpson Miller to select the best individuals possible for her Cabinet, but was constrained in how candid she could be about our concerns".
"We are nevertheless confident that the message registered, as Hylton subsequently asked the Canadians, disingenuously in our view, whether the ambassador was trying to signal concern," the cable said.
The ambassador was accompanied by two embassy officials, one of whom acted as notetaker.
According to the cable, US and British officials met on March 13, two days before the Jamaica House meeting, "to discuss mutual concerns over the possible inclusion of Paulwell in the new Cabinet, and how best to raise the issue with Simpson Miller in their respective meetings".
The British diplomat met with Simpson Miller on March 14 and subsequently briefed his American counterpart that "Paulwell and Hylton also sat in on that meeting... which similarly limited what he could say with Paulwell present".
Yesterday, when the Observer contacted Paulwell for a comment, he said, "My lawyers have advised me not to comment in this matter, and any mention of my name in any publication or media house could be considered an actionable offence."
However, he added: "I feel that any mention of my name in this matter stems from my relationship with the Venezuelan Government at the time."
His reference was to the PetroCaribe agreement established in June 2005, which allows Caribbean countries to purchase oil from Venezuela on conditions of preferential payments. These include reduced upfront payments, while the remainder is paid through a 25-year financing agreement at one per cent interest.
"I still maintain that PetroCaribe was good for Jamaica at the time and today," Paulwell said yesterday. "The allegations raised are ridiculous and nonsensical. Indeed, the test of time has proven them to be so, because there have been extensive investigations and witchhunting on behalf of the current Government which have found no shred of evidence of wrongdoing, because there is none. These people are engaged in rumour mongering.
"It is also my understanding that there is a negative attitude because of my relationship with both the Venezuelan and Cuban governments," he said, adding, "I make no apologies for my admiration for the support for Jamaica created under PetroCaribe. Were it not for PetroCaribe, Jamaica would be in a worse economic state. I have had no problem travelling to either the US, UK or Canada and I am treated well when I travel to these countries, which I do frequently."
The cable said that at the meeting with the US ambassador, "Simpson Miller indicated that she would not make wholesale changes until winning a popular mandate in a general election. She implied, but did not specifically state, that she would call early elections, noting that she did not want 'campaigning' to mar the March-April 2007 Cricket World Cup, and that she could not effect a number of Cabinet changes she hoped to make without an electoral mandate. Simpson Miller implied on several occasions that she would like to replace more ministers than was politically expedient, or possible".
The diplomatic cable said that Simpson Miller indicated that whereas her campaign slogan was 'Team Portia', she emphasised that she intended to govern inclusively as 'Team Jamaica', and to continue her campaign practice of not answering some critics' vitriolic political attacks in kind.
"Clearly with an eye on the general elections, she said she planned to spend as much time as her governing responsibilities allowed reaching out to Jamaicans on 'street corners and rural areas', and that she would require her ministers to maintain a more visible presence in the exercise of their portfolios," the cable said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1NqDPQua8
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