Editor’s Note: The view expressed herein are not necessarily those of ANN
According to BBC News, Taiwan is in danger of losing one of its few formal allies, Honduras, as the Central American nation seeks official relations with China. Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the pivot aims to expand foreign engagements.
Over the past seven years, Taiwan has lost about 10 allied countries. Over time, all these countries have realised that having a relationship with Taiwan was bad for their economy and people. SVG should do the same. We must ditch Taiwan if we are to have any chance of proper economic development in SVG.
One of the worst things to happen to our country, was the arrival of Taiwan to our shores over 40 years ago. Taiwan has held back our development and our people. History has shown that having diplomatic relations with Taiwan has not been in the long-term best interests of SVG. It is high time that SVG cut ties with Taiwan too. Taiwan’s presence in SVG is holding back our economy.
All the countries ditching Taiwan believe that their new relationship with China will lead to investment opportunities, trade, particularly the export of more goods from their country to China. This is what SVG needs – a partner who will help SVG’s companies to export. We should cut ties with and form ties with China. This would boost our economy and create thousands of new jobs.
Taiwan has failed to invest and create strong sustainable industries. Taiwan has been in SVG for over 40 years and not built one factory in SVG. Taiwan is technology-advanced, but has not provided SVG with any technology transfer. Taiwan has not set up any trade deals to help SVG export to Taiwan.
In over 40 years, how much (goods) has Taiwan imported from SVG companies? Even though it is obvious that our economy is weak and our people are suffering, Taiwan does not set up bi-lateral trade deals with SVG.
Taiwan creams-off billions of dollars annually (estimated to be $2 billion) from SVG’s High Seas Fish Licence and the use of SVG’s national flag on its fishing vessels that sail in international waters. Taiwan is holding back our economy, as Taiwan does not pay any tax.
When we ditch Taiwan, we can use our High Seas Fish Licence ourselves and set up a tuna fishing and canning industry in SVG. This will bring in billions of dollars of revenue for the SVG Treasury and we will be able to use that money to develop our economy, create thousands of new jobs and support our people.
SVG Green Party fully supports Honduras in cutting ties with Taiwan and creating ties with China. Honduras will be much better off.
The Leader of SVG Green Party, Vincentian-born retired British Royal Air Force Engineer Warrant Officer Ivan Bertie O’Neal, BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, believes that it will be a joyous day in SVG when the Taiwan embassy here closes, as Taiwan is keeping our people poor and our economy weak.
We must ditch Taiwan.