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Viewing cable 09BOGOTA3204, AMBASSADOR'S VISIT HIGHLIGHTS USG INTEREST IN SAN ANDRES

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BOGOTA3204 2009-10-09 15:04 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3204/01 2821504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091504Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0078
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0286
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0188
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 0114
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0118
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0187
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003204 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID OEXC PREL KLSO SNAR SENV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S VISIT HIGHLIGHTS USG INTEREST IN SAN ANDRES 
 
Summary 
 
1. (SBU) The Ambassador traveled to San Andres, Colombia on 
September 22-23, to highlight U.S. interest in San Andres and 
discuss how the United States can best support the development of 
the island.  The Ambassador was briefed by the Governor, leaders in 
conservation and tourism, leaders of the Afro-Colombian Raizal 
community regarding challenges facing its community, and local 
military and police commanders about narcotics trafficking 
activities in and around the island.  The Ambassador visited the 
Universidad Nacional Caribbean branch and made a book donation to a 
local bilingual grade school.  San Andres' immediate future will be 
determined by three current fault lines: 1) Native Raizal community 
vs. Colombian mainlanders; 2) Colombia vs. Nicaraguan sovereignty 
claims; and, 3) San Andres leadership vs. narcotics trafficking 
industry.  End Summary 
 
Working Luncheon with the Governor 
 
2. (U) The Ambassador attended a working luncheon with the Governor 
of San Andres on September 22.  This meeting framed his trip to the 
island with discussions on tourism, bilingualism, conservationism, 
Afro-Colombian issues, and drug trafficking in San Andres.  The 
Governor confirmed that tourism was vital to the island's 
development and informed the Ambassador that his office had been in 
close contact with Spirit Airlines and Royal Caribbean.  He also 
noted that the Vice President of Spirit Airlines informed him that 
the company would add a direct flight from Fort Lauderdale to San 
Andres starting next year.  The Governor discussed the lack of 
English language used in the tourism industry in recent years.  He 
stated that English was slowly disappearing on the island, and that 
the tourism industry caters mostly to Spanish-speaking mainland 
Colombians. 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador emphasized USG disposition to cooperate 
with San Andres on tourism.  He highlighted that bilingualism was 
one of San Andres' strongest assets, and noted that the United 
States would support efforts to bring mainland Colombians to San 
Andres and Providence islands to learn English. 
 
English Immersion Programs in San Andres 
 
4. (U) The Ambassador visited Universidad Nacional's Caribbean 
branch to learn about the University's English Immersion program. 
The vice-rector of Universidad Nacional and the University Director 
of the Caribbean branch explained that the program began five years 
ago and annually benefits about 60-70 public school teachers who 
learn English in classes with native English speakers.  San Andres' 
native English speakers are the Raizal community. 
 
5. (U) The Ambassador addressed, in his speech to the university's 
professors and staff, the importance of creating English projects 
in San Andres as a way to strengthen economic development within 
the archipelago.  He emphasized that English will provide greater 
opportunities for advanced studies and academic achievement.  The 
Ambassador noted that the Embassy is investigating ways to expand 
English teaching programs through increased English scholarships, 
teacher training, donations of resources and materials, and 
exchanges for Colombian teachers. 
 
Native Raizal Community vs. Colombian Mainlanders 
 
6. (U) The Ambassador met with leaders from the Afro-Colombian 
Raizal community and the Governor to discuss the challenges that 
face the Raizal community.  The Raizal population is a protestant 
Afro-Caribbean Colombian ethnic group that speaks English Creole 
and lives in the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa 
Catalina.  In 1903, the local Raizal population rejected an offer 
from the United States to separate from Colombia when the U.S. 
declared Panama an independent nation.  Following the rejection, 
according to the Raizal leaders, the Colombian government led an 
assimilation policy to modify the ethnic composition within the 
Archipelago with Spanish-speaking mainland Colombians.  This policy 
resulted in an ethnic divide between the Raizal community and the 
Colombian mainlanders. 
 
7. (SBU) The Raizal leaders acknowledged that the community 
considers itself an underrepresented minority at both the local and 
national level.  They conversed about their feelings of being an 
endangered community that fears it will lose its cultural identity. 
The majority of Raizales suffer from high unemployment and lack of 
 
income and economic generating opportunities to improve their 
livelihoods.  There has been a surge of domestic violence against 
women, teenage pregnancy, single parent families raised mostly by 
women, and an increase in illegal activities related to drug 
trafficking.  The leaders emphasized that there is a lack of 
political representation to assist them in addressing these issues. 
 
 
8. (SBU) The Ambassador underscored the need for the Raizal leaders 
to design a development plan and to look into the possibility of 
existing programs through USAID and PAS to support the community 
and to help improve their representation, economic opportunities 
and living conditions.  The Ambassador reiterated the continued USG 
commitment to Afro-Colombian issues throughout Colombia. 
 
Colombian vs. Nicaraguan Sovereignty Claims 
 
9. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of sovereignty claims over 
the San Andres Archipelago during a joint meeting with the local 
naval and police commanders on September 23.  The Colombian Naval 
Commander emphasized that the International Court of Justice ruled 
in favor of Colombia's sovereignty over the San Andres Archipelago, 
but the maritime issues were yet to be resolved.  There have not 
been confrontations between Nicaraguan and Colombian Navies, and 
the Colombian Coast Guard is able to patrol the territorial waters 
of the San Andres Archipelago without any quarrels from Nicaragua. 
 
 
San Andres Leadership vs. Narcotics Trafficking Industry 
 
10. (SBU) During the luncheon with the Governor, the Ambassador 
inquired about the magnitude of the narcotics trafficking problem 
on the island.  The Governor stressed drug trafficking in San 
Andres is a major problem, San Andres has  problems with both  drug 
trafficking and internal consumption.  He informed the Ambassador 
of an initiative he was proposing called "Seawatchers" which would 
provide artisanal fishermen with government support, including 
improved equipment and housing conditions, in exchange for the 
fishermen agreeing to use a monitoring device that would allow the 
government to track the locations of  their vessels  at all times. 
The Governor concluded that San Andres' leaders are in control of 
the situation and are working to reduce narcotics trafficking in 
San Andres. 
 
11. (SBU) Throughout the joint meeting with the local naval and 
police commanders, the group highlighted that the Colombian 
National Police, Navy and Air Force are working with DEA to combat 
the drug trafficking problem.  They pointed out that the San Andres 
Archipelago represents unique narcotics trafficking opportunities 
between mainland Colombia and the Central American corridor.  The 
number of seizures this year has increased and they anticipate 
greater success in the coming years.  They stressed the importance 
of working with DEA and their desire to increase the presence of 
DEA in San Andres, even suggesting opening a satellite office 
staffed by DEA.  The commanders appealed for more technical support 
for cellular and radio equipment. 
 
Book Donation to Brooks Hill Bilingual School 
 
12. (U) The Ambassador donated a set of books to the library of the 
Brooks Hill Bilingual School on September 23.  Brooks Hill 
Bilingual School is the first school to pilot an extensive 
bilingual curriculum in San Andres promoted by the Ministry of 
Education and the local Secretary of Education.  The Ambassador 
gave a speech to about 400 teachers and students (kindergarten to 
eleventh grade) on the importance of learning a second language and 
the opportunities offered by knowledge of another language. 
 
Luncheon with the Tourism Industry 
 
13. (U) The Ambassador attended a working luncheon, hosted by the 
Colombian Chamber of Commerce, with twelve local leaders in the 
tourism industry.  The leaders expressed gratitude for the 
Ambassador's visit to San Andres and noted that it was the first 
official visit by a U.S. Ambassador.  They voiced interest in 
strengthening commercial relationships with the United States and 
the desire to increase tourism to the island.  The leaders 
expressed interest in participating in trade expositions and fairs 
as a means to establish relationships with U.S. companies.  They 
acknowledged the poor infrastructure in the island, but wanted to 
improve it to help develop additional potential business 
 
opportunities. 
 
14. (U) The Ambassador described U.S. Major League baseball's 
winter leagues in Latin America.  There are currently leagues in 
Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.  We are 
exploring a Colombian league.  He suggested San Andres might 
explore such a team. 
 
15. (U) The Ambassador also met with the Director of Food 
Inspection and Control of the Health Secretary, who explained the 
USAID-sponsored program to improve sanitation standards in 
restaurants and food chains.  The director noted that 31 
restaurants received USAID-sponsored training and noted that the 
restaurant where the working luncheon took place was a beneficiary 
of the program. 
 
Conservation Project with CORALINA 
 
16. (U) The Ambassador attended a meeting with members of CORALINA- 
The Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the Archipelago 
of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina- to discuss the 
issues facing the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.  Recognized by 
UNESCO in 2000, it is the largest marine protected area in the 
Caribbean and among the largest in the world.  CORALINA works in 
collaboration with the government of San Andres to administer, 
protect and restore the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.  The Biosphere 
Reserve covers about 10% of the Caribbean Sea and includes costal 
mangrove swamps and coral reef areas. 
 
17. (U) The director of CORALINA expressed that one of the major 
problems facing fisheries management in the archipelago is rampant 
poaching from foreign fishers in the region.  Nicaraguan, Honduran, 
Jamaican, and Dominican fishing vessels are often identified as 
illegal fishers.  CORALINA has worked extensively to plan and 
implement external boundaries, zoning and regulations within the 
Biosphere to reduce the damage created by human activities.  The 
director noted that the Colombian Coast Guard works well with 
CORALINA to enforce the boundaries and zoning areas of the marine 
protected area.  NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs has 
worked with CORALINA on regulation of queen conch, and gave a grant 
to develop a case study on how they maintain sustainable fisheries. 
NOAA will continue to work with CORALINA on management and 
enforcement training. 
 
18. (U) The Ambassador underscored the success of CORALINA since 
its implementation in 1993.  He recognized CORALINA's world 
leadership in marine protected management by conserving the natural 
resources of the archipelago and contributing to the economy of 
Colombia.  The Ambassador noted the importance of conservation and 
USG continued efforts to support the preservation of the Biosphere 
reserve. 
NICHOLS