Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
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KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: The St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Green Party, the latest political entity to be formed in SVG, has refused an offer to dialogue with the Taiwanese Embassy.
A release from the leader and co-founder of the party, former British servicemen Ivan O’Neal, referring to what he described as “a discreet request” by the Embassy for talks says that the SVG Green Party has “nothing to discuss with the Taiwanese or its agents.”
O’Neal’s release said that Taiwan “has the world third largest reserve of US$207 billion and is a world leader in manufacturing” and that Taiwan has had diplomatic relations with SVG for over 22 years “and in all that time has not built one single factory in SVG to help in the development of SVG to provide sustainable jobs for our youth.”
In addition, O’Neal said that it is “very wicked and a gross injustice” that the governing Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration has increased what he described as the “tax burden” on kerosene and yet “turns a blind eye on the super rich Taiwan , who creamed off billions of dollars from SVG Atlantic deep sea fishing licenses from 1987 to 2004.”
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during his 2005 budgetary address last December announced that Vincentian would as of January 1 2005 pay and increase of EC$2.50 per gallon of kerosene. The Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Finance also announced increased in the price of gasoline and diesel and a number of taxes including one imposed on calls made from mobile phone and winnings from the National Lottery Authority.
O’Neal in his release said that his party does not consider Taiwan as a true friend of SVG. He said that the SVG Green Party, in office, will sever ties with Taiwan and form relations with China and will cancel all SVG Atlantic Ocean deep sea fishing license granted to Taiwan.
Madame Elizabeth Chu, Taiwan’s ambassador to SVG, earlier today told this writer that the request of her embassy was not a “discreet” one as O’Neal had suggested. She said that her embassy was unsuccessful in finding out a contact number for O’Neal or his party.
According to Ambassador Chu, Mr. Allen Luo, the second in command at the Taiwanese embassy wanted to talk with O’Neal to address some “misconceptions” that he had about the relationship between SVG and Taiwan.
Ivan O’Neal number if listed in the local telephone directory. However, when the number was dialled earlier today, the operator apologised and said, “The number you are calling is not available.
Madame Chu, during the interview today, said that the driver at the embassy, in light of the failed attempts to secure a number for O’Neal, on seeing O’ Neal asked him to contact the embassy. Madame Chu says that her embassy considers every Vincentian as a friend and is willing to dialogue with any interested person and to address any misconception that they might have about the relationship between the two countries.
Ambassador Chu said that O’Neal obviously had a number of misconceptions based on the fact that he last year staged a one-man protest outside the Parliament building during which he claimed and displayed for public consumption, information that claimed that Taiwan was creaming million of dollars off fish that SVG traditionally has a licence to harvest.
Prime Minister Gonsalves, speaking at a news conference a few days after the O’Neal protest said that contrary to O’Neal’s claims there were no Taiwanese vessel fishing in SVG waters but rather Taiwanese vessels among others were registered in SVG.
The SVG Green Party had a very low-keyed launch on January 10. During the launch which took the form of a media conference, O’Neal unveiled the party’s election symbol, the telephone, as well as outlining the party’s policies on several issues.
During the launch O’ Neal said already the SVG Green Party was doing research on a number of issues confronting SVG. Among the issues he listed HIV and AIDS, education, environment issues, the oil prices and high energy bill as well as the management of the economy. He said that the party would contest all 15 parliamentary elections when the next general elections are called, constitutionally due by mid 2006.
O’Neal was the only representative of the party at the launching. He told local media workers that there were a number of reputable and influential persons in the country who are behind the SVG Green Party but because of work commitment and family they preferred to remain behind the scene for the time being.
During the launch he derided the Unity Labour Party (ULP) and the Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) for what he described as their mismanagement of the economy. He had said that he planned to travel overseas shortly, and to set up an office for the party when he returns.
This is O’Neal’s third outing with a political party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Former British Naval Officer first came to national prominence, when, as activist for the opposition ULP, he chained himself to the cenotaph, a war memorial locally referred to as the “iron man”, to protest it being moved by the then NDP administration.
O’Neal served as treasurer of the ULP, before breaking ranks with the party in 2000 to join the now defunct People’s Progressive Movement (PPM). He contested the North Central Windward seat on a People Progressive Movement (PPM) ticket during the 2001 general election and received 30 votes. Known for his courage, discipline and determination, O’Neal pledged to do his best to see that the SVG Green Party succeeds at the next poll despite the little attention that is often given to third parties in SVG and the wider Caribbean.
Speaking at a media conference which was held at the same time O’Neal was launching hi s political party, Prime Minister Gonsalves, responding to a question from a local journalist sniggered as he said, “Everybody knows that that is a joke.” “One of the things is this,” the Prime Minister sniggered, “you know, there is a certain amount of idleness which takes place. You can’t just hold a press conference and announce a Party. I mean, is not a bolo you having. “I don’t think that you have many people in the country, who would take it seriously. I mean, I respect Ivan O’Neal. He has been a serviceman. He’s a person of discipline. So, I’m not going to say anything untoward about him.”
While the Prime Minister and others have voiced their views on O’Neal’s political party, O’Neal, during the media launch said: “If you are interested in having an environment that is free from pollution, free of violence and free from oppression, come and join the SVG Green Party, we are the way forward.”
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