Introduction
Since this ULP administration came to office in March of 2001, our government has crafted a domestic policy and a complimentary foreign policy that has put SVG on a development trajectory and improved our reputation globally.
We say complimentary, because a casual observation will reveal that our development agenda has the support of many of our diplomatic allies and this allows for the implementation of a number of very important projects for this country. As a developing country with limited resources, facing many challenges, many of which are outside of our control, it is important to craft a foreign policy that supports our domestic development agenda. Challenges notwithstanding, our government is very mindful that our foreign policy with its importance to our development, must be grounded in principles that guide international relations. The principles as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, guide our decisions so that even when ideological and other differences exist, SVG can still engage other nations on issues of mutual interests in the quest to achieve both national and global objectives.
Over the past 22 years, many instances exist of the working of our foreign policy to achieve our domestic goals where our diplomatic allies worked with us on very important projects. Some examples of this include Taiwan’s support for the education revolution through scholarships and bursaries, Cuba’s support for our healthcare system through the Vision Now program, and assistance with the Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre in Georgetown, among other, and Venezuela with subsidized fuel and millions of dollars of debt forgiveness. Those examples listed are just a few of the many available as throughout this country, projects from the transformational Argyle International Airport, the Rabacca Bridge, Learning Resource Centres, smart hospitals and clinics, assistance with coastguard vessels, road repair and our modern port under construction have received assistance from other countries including the USA, the UK, and Kuwait to name a few. There is no doubt that our foreign policy is working and is producing many benefits to our country.
Our Foreign Policy not transactional
With SVG realizing so many benefits as a result of our foreign policy, many often ask, what do those countries get from SVG in return, and this is a fair question. For example, our most recent major international accomplishment of securing the support of the United Nations General Assembly by a vote of 185-6 to serve for 2 years as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is remarkable in every respect. It is well-known that such campaigns can be very costly because of the extensive lobbying that aspiring countries undertake meeting representatives from various countries to seek their support. How then could a small country like SVG, without the kind of funding required to undertake such extensive lobbying defeat El Salvador to become the smallest country ever to sit on the UNSC? It’s because of our international reputation that has been significantly improved since the ULP came into office. Regardless to the forum, be it the United Nations, the Organization of American States, The Commonwealth, or in regional organisations, SVG has become known for its principled position on matters of international law, and countries have grown to respect us for this.
Our country’s UNSC campaign used the theme “friends of all, we strive for a better world” and this guides of engagements with countries of various or opposing ideologies allowing us to work together. The construction of the AIA is a prime example, as SVG was able to secure contributions from Canada, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Georgia, all democratic countries, as well as Cuba, Venezuela that are socialist and Iran that is an Islamic Republic. We can speak on behalf of Taiwan, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, countries that assist us financially or with technical assistance (or both) while at the same time we defend the right to self-determination of the State of Palestine and the people of West Papua or Bonaire, who are unable to offer us any tangible benefits. This speaks to the foundational principles of our foreign policy, the respect for sovereignty and independence, and the right to self-determination, and the respect for the principles of the Charter of the UN.
Never will our ULP government put a “for sale” sign in the metaphoric window at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to sell our dignity and patrimony to the highest bidder. The parliamentary opposition NDP offers a pipe dream or streets made of gold to Vincentians, to be financed by the selling of Vincentian passports and citizenship for foreigners, many of whom are of questionable repute. Their transactional understanding of foreign policy leads them down a path where they would break ties with our long-standing friend Taiwan, and establish relations with the Republic of China, to satisfy their financiers who would be asking for their pound of flesh. The blatant hypocrisy of their position is exposed when one considers their constant criticism of SVG relationship with socialist countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, with their plan to establish diplomatic relations with a communist country at the expense of Taiwan, a beacon of democracy in Asia. If that position confuses you the reader, you aren’t alone, it’s a most confusing, hypocritical, and backward position, based solely on the hope of transactions that include the selling of our passports. We are more principled than that; we are better than that.
Conclusion
After many years of witnessing a progressive foreign policy at work that has both improved our country’s global reputation as a principled practitioner of international law, and brought this country many developmental benefits, we cannot allow a visionless NDP to threaten those gains. Our government continues to act in the best interest of our country and its citizens through our foreign policy promoting the principles of international law, which we as a small state depend on as we seek to guide and protect our existence in a world dealing with constant challenges. You can be sure that the next elections will be a referendum on where this country goes regarding its foreign policy, do we remain principled with the ULP, or become transactional with the NDP, putting up a “for sale sign”? The choice is ours, and we must choose to keep on the principled path with the ULP.
