The New Democratic Party (NDP) administration has met with diplomats based in Kingstown, including the Taiwan ambassador, despite the party’s 2016 policy stating that, if elected to office, it would sever ties with Taipei.
In August 2016, then NDP President and Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace announced that, if elected to office, the NDP would switch diplomatic recognition to China, which considers Taiwan a renegade state and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its unification goals.
Friday replaced Eustace as NDP president and leader of the opposition in November 2017, and the NDP has not announced any change in their position, even as it has repeatedly hinted that it would maintain the diplomatic ties.
Friday became the prime minister on Nov. 28, after leading the NDP to a 14-1 victory over the incumbent Unity Labour Party, which was seeking a sixth consecutive five-year term in office.
When Friday was sworn in, Resident British commissioner in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Geoffrey Patton, was the only foreign diplomat at the event at Government House.
The prime minister told iWitness news that this was “just a matter of logistics”, given the short time in which the ceremony was planned.
He said the intention was to have all diplomats at the swearing-in of the Cabinet on Dec. 2.
Taiwan Ambassador to SVG, Fiona Huei-Chun Fan, was among the diplomats who attended that event at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
On Dec. 15, the Office of the Prime Minister announced on its social media page that the prime minister met with Fan on Dec. 12.
The office said in the same post that the prime minister met with Patton on Dec. 15.
The post said that the prime minister met with each of the diplomats “to discuss various matters touching and concerning the way forward for SVG, with the generous assistance from both nations”.
The government has not made any statement about Kingstown-Taipei ties, even as the incumbent Unity Labour Party had suggested during the election campaign that Kingstown would switch its diplomatic recognition to Beijing, as Chinese nationals sought access to Vincentian passports through the citizenship-by-investment programme proposed by the NDP.
Meanwhile, Friday and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs, Fitzgerald Bramble, met on Dec. 11 with Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the United States to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Karin Sullivan,
“The meeting offered an opportunity for Ms. Sullivan to extend congratulations to the newly elected Prime Minister and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to continued strong and constructive bilateral cooperation,” a press release said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs anticipates deepening the longstanding partnership between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States, with a shared focus on advancing mutual prosperity, security, and the well-being of both nations and their peoples.”
On Dec. 10, Bramble received courtesy calls from Carlos Ernesto Rodríguez Etcheverry, the Cuban ambassador to SVG, and Ana Lélia Benincá Beltrame, the Brazilian ambassador to SVG.
A press release said that during discussions with Etcheverry, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the enduring bilateral relationship between Kingstown and Havana.
Bramble underscored his interest in pursuing new opportunities to expand investment and trade, while further enhancing cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The press release said the meeting with Beltrame provided an opportunity to extend congratulations to Bramble on his appointment and to exchange views on ongoing initiatives, with both sides exploring potential areas for deeper collaboration.
Meanwhile, on Dec. 17, the government reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation, integration and complementarity within the framework of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), following the 25th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The summit convened virtually on Dec. 14, with Bramble as head of the Vincentian delegation.
The ministry said that SVG took this opportunity to reaffirm its continued commitment to deepening the process of integration and unity among Latin American and Caribbean nations within the ALBA-TCP framework, in keeping with shared objectives of cooperation, development and mutual support.
However, Kingstown registered its reservation regarding the final declaration because of the limited time in which the new government had to review it.
The ministry said that SVG was unable to submit appropriate negotiating positions prior to the adoption of the final declaration by heads of state and government.
“The Government underscored that this reservation is procedural in nature and is intended to ensure that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ positions were fully considered through the appropriate consultative processes, consistent with its constitutional responsibilities and diplomatic practice,” the press release said.
Cut ties with Taiwan. Strengthen ties with Caribbean and Latin American countries. Don’t be manipulated by the USA.
Friday: Don’t make any move on Taiwan at this time. Work with them even before you issue the passport idea. Check the Barbados and Jamaica passport technique. Trump would come after you if he doesn’t like your passport plan.