KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC—A member of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), St. Clair Leacock, says he will consider Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines “in the middle of this year” interference in the country’s politics.
On Wednesday, when debating the EC$1.85 billion budget for 2025, the opposition lawmaker noted that Vincentians are likely to elect a new government this year—ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
He said the capital program shows that the Ministry of Housing plans to build 1,000 houses this year, and the financing is listed as local.
“It’s only when we get to the end that we have to depend on a grant from our friends, Taiwan — significant, substantial.”
He told Parliament that he did not want to “go too far into this Taiwan’s contribution because that will have implications.
“But maybe let me say it here now, as I see it now, though, because I’m not squaring off or looking for issues with anyone else, nor is our party, because I think that’s inclusive of the fact that the President of Taiwan may be here sometime this year. I think I heard that last year.”
Last year, after attending Lai’s inauguration in Taipei, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced that he had invited the Taiwan president to visit St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In response, Leacock said, “If the President of Taiwan came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the middle of this year, I would construe it as interference in the politics of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s an electoral year.”
“I said I would construe my interpretation of his presence here in an election year — I am entitled to an opinion — as interference into the political affairs of a sovereign state.
“And you don’t jump too high and jump off your horse because you can’t have it both ways. Because when we had Taiwan out at the Argyle International Airport receiving [the President of] India, we pulled them out the line.
“So today we want them, the next day we don’t want them. And we push them and pull them here according to our ideology and ideology, is Major talking. So don’t come with them rancor for me.”
Leacock is one of two vice presidents of the NDP, which announced in 2016 that if elected, it would sever ties with Taiwan and establish diplomatic relations with China.
At that time, the NDP was led by Arnhim Eustace, who has since retired from politics. Godwin Friday replaced him as NDP president and leader of the opposition.
Under Friday’s leadership, the NDP has hinted from time to time at a softening of its pro-China stance but has not backed away from its adoption of the One China policy.
General elections are widely expected by November this year, ahead of the February 2026 constitutional deadline.
Leacock is slated to seek a fourth consecutive five-year term as MP for Central Kingstown in that vote.
St Vincent, the Grenadines, and Taiwan have remained diplomatic allies since ties were established in 1981.
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