KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, March 17, CMC -Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has criticised the decision of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government to send the Minister of National Security, St. Clair Daniel, on a state visit to Taiwan.
Leacock is expected to arrive in Taipei later on Tuesday at the head of an official delegation that includes his wife, Margaret Leacock, Social Welfare Minister Shevern John, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Lavern King.
They will be the first members of the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) government to visit the Asian country since the November 27 general election, which resulted in the defeat of the Gonsalves Unity Labour Party (ULP) after 25 years in office.
But Gonsalves said he was disappointed that the first state visit by the government was not being undertaken by Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fitzgerald Bramble.
“The minister of foreign affairs will, and the prime minister will go to conferences like OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States), CARICOM, and the foreign minister will go to Britain for the United Kingdom CARICOM forum.
“But you campaign against Taiwan, campaign for mainland China, and then the Minister of National Security goes,” said Gonsalves.
Before his departure, Leacock said that during his visit, he intends to ask Taipei for a fleet of vehicles to support the country’s crime-prevention efforts and that he would seek to have three vehicles donated to be used by the National Council on Crime Prevention, for its D.A.R.E programme, and three for the Cadet Force.
However, Gonsalves criticised the strategy, saying that, “never in the history of the Caribbean has anyone left their country to go to another to obtain vehicles,” and added, “you could talk to the ambassador here about it.”
Gonsalves said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has received vehicles from Taiwan before, including ambulances, and that those discussions were initiated in Kingstown, adding, “you don’t need a visit for that”.
The Opposition Leader said that, while he was prime minister and minister of national security, Taiwan offered local law enforcement vehicles and was informed about a model manufactured for police use in that country.
The issue of spare parts and the durability of such vehicles came into focus, however, Gonsalves said.
He said that if Leacock was successful in his bid, he wanted to know whether the cost of the vehicles would be included in the $10 million allocated annually to fund projects here, or from a new financial arrangement.
He said that when the ULP was elected in 2001, the amount allocated to this country was $1 million, which was later increased to the current $10 million.
Taiwan has assisted in numerous projects, Gonsalves said, including the construction of the Rabacca Bridge, the international airport, and the hospital under construction at Arnos Vale.
“You bad talk Taiwan, you want to change to mainland China, and then you embarrass yourself and say that we’re going to look for 12 vehicles,” Gonsalves said.
“You ain’t got to go for that. I know how foreign policy works. You ain’t going to say you’re going to strengthen relations. You’re going to beg for 12 vehicles, that’s where St. Vincent reached now,” he said.
“St Vincent and the Grenadiers, in the context in which this discussion is taking place, that you oppose Taiwan since 2017, nine years now; let’s talk vehicle?” he said.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among a handful of Caribbean countries that enjoy diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.
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