DATE=3/2/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39118
TITLE=U-S CARIBBEAN DRUGS 
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=MIAMI 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAR ON DRUGS, THE U-S AND THE 
CARIBBEAN ARE COOPERATING FULLY -- SO SAYS A REPORT ISSUED LAST 
WEEK BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT. JUST ONE YEAR AGO, THE U-S WAS AT 
ODDS WITH SEVERAL OF ITS CARIBBEAN NEIGHBORS WHEN IT CAME TO 
FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKERS -- BUT AS WE HEAR FROM VOA'S JIM TEEPLE
IN OUR MIAMI BUREAU THINGS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THEN.

TEXT:   JUST ONE YEAR AGO SEVERAL CARIBBEAN LEADERS ACCUSED THE 
U-S OF BULLYING TACTICS WHEN IT CAME TO COOPERATION IN THE WAR ON
DRUGS.  WHILE U-S OFFICIALS NEVER PUBLICLY SAID SO, OFFICIALS IN 
SEVERAL CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES, MOST NOTABLY JAMAICA AND BARBADOS, 
FELT THEY WERE IN JEOPARDY  OF BEING DECERTIFIED BY THE U-S. 

CERTIFICATION -- THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE U-S DETERMINES WHETHER 
A COUNTRY IS COOPERATING OR NOT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG 
TRAFFICKING-- EMERGED AS A MAJOR ISSUE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN THE 
U-S AND ITS CARIBBEAN NEIGHBORS. 

HOWEVER, LAST WEEK IN ITS ANNUAL CERTIFICATION REPORT, THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT SAID ALL CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES IT REVIEWED WERE 
COOPERATING FULLY IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.  SO WHAT HAS CHANGED IN 
THE PAST YEAR?  IVELAW GRIFFITH IS A  PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL 
SCIENCE AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN MIAMI WHO HAS JUST
PUBLISHED A BOOK ON DRUGS AND SECURITY IN THE CARIBBEAN.  HE SAYS
THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON TRAVELED TO 
BARBADOS FOR HIS SUMMIT WITH CARIBBEAN LEADERS LAST MAY. 

               ///  INSERT GRIFFITH ACTUALITY ///

         THE SUMMIT, WHERE PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A FIRST FOR A U-S
         PRESIDENT WENT TO  THE CARIBBEAN TO MEET OFFICIALLY WITH
         THE LEADERS AND GOT A SENSE FROM THEM OF THEIR 
         INTEPRETATION OF THE REALITIES. 

                     ///  END ACTUALITY ///

IVELAW GRIFFITH SAYS THAT SUMMIT PRODUCED CONSENSUS ON HOW TO 
PROCEED WITH SEVERAL SO-CALLED SHIPRIDER AGREEMENTS WHICH ALLOW 
U-S SHIPS AND PLANES TO PURSUE DRUG TRAFFICKERS INSIDE THE 
TERRITORIAL WATERS AND AIRSPACE OF CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES.  
NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE AGREEMENTS HAD BOGGED DOWN SAYS IVELAW 
GRIFFITH RAISING TENSIONS JUST BEFORE THE SUMMIT. 

             ///  INSERT 2ND GRIFFITH ACTUALITY ///

         AND IT WAS THAT PRECIPITATED THE TALK IN WASHINGTON OF A
         POSSIBLE  DECERTIFICATION MORE FOR JAMAICA THAN FOR 
         BARBADOS.  NOW THAT SHIPRIDER DISPUTE HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

                     ///  END ACTUALITY ///

NOW MOST CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES HAVE SHIPRIDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE 
UNITED STATES AND, WHILE THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS SEVERAL 
COUNTRIES REMAIN MAJOR TRANSHIPMENT POINTS FOR NARCOTICS, 
COOPERATION IS UP WHEN IT COMES TO DRUG INVESTIGATIONS. 

// OPT //   AUTHORITIES STILL WARN THAT NEW DRUG TRAFFICKING 
ROUTES ARE EMERGING ALL THE TIME.  IN FACT THE U-S DRUG 
ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT RECENTLY FOUND NEARLY 
FOUR-THOUSAND KILOS OF COCAINE ON A COLOMBIAN-REGISTERED 
FREIGHTER IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS -- FAR TO THE NORTH OF 
WHERE DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE BEEN WORKING RECENTLY. // END OPT // 
(SIGNED) 

NEB/JLT/WDC/PLM

02-Mar-98 2:57 PM EST (1957 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.