We are a sovereign nation - Jamaica tells US

The United States Embassy in Kingston was apparently ticked off by Jamaica's failure to vote in line with it at the United Nations.

In a May 2007 cable, embassy officials told Washington while it was not sure how Jamaica would vote on Belarus' candidacy for a seat on the Human Rights Council, it would not be surprised if the country did not vote in line with the Americans.

The cable has been edited for length and libel.

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000708

SUBJECT: JAMAICA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BELARUS CANDIDACY

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: AMBASSADOR'S ASSESSMENT

1. (US Embassy official) sent talking points to … Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

All relevant officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade - including (the targeted official) - have been involved in two days of training and have been unavailable for comment.

(US Embassy official) is scheduled to meet with (Ministry of Foreign Affairs official) on Monday, May 14 and will report Jamaica's response.

2. Post, however, is able to give a preliminary assessment of the Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) response based on previous demarches delivered on UN voting.

The GOJ, on matters of UN voting, seldom reveals its intended vote.

Generally, the GOJ reports to (US Embassy officials) that Jamaica is a sovereign nation and will exercise its own judgement at the time the vote is cast.

Jamaica currently votes approximately 12 per cent of the time in concordance with the US.