Saint Lucians have witnessed the horrific daily accounts on the
relentless and brutal attacked waged against the people of Syria by the regime
of President Bashar al-Assad. Saint Lucians along with the democratic world
shared the collective grief and disappointment at the fact that the recent
United Nations resolution on the situation in Syria was crippled by the
shameful veto actions of Russia and China.
Whereas these developments may appears to be far removed and
unrelated to our situation locally, I am of the view that these developments
bear direct relations to the current deliberations of the Government of Saint
Lucia with regards to Saint Lucia’s foreign Affairs posture i.e. diplomatic
relations with Taiwan or China. The position taken by the Communist Government
of China in its veto of the UN resolution on Syria is consistent with the
inhumane stance which they have adapted through their support of the Sudanese
regime which has perpetuated a process of ruthless genocide against the
defenceless natives of the Dafur region of Sudan since 2003. That regime
through the support of the Chinese has been responsible for the slaughter of
over ½ million people with over three (3) million made into refugees. The
regime in Khartoum has been able to benefit from the supply of Chinese military
hardware, China being Sudan’s largest supplier of arms. China
is thus a knowing and willing accomplice in the Bashir regime’s genocide in
Darfur.
China’s
human rights record is well documented
and stands out as the country with one of the worst human rights records
internationally. Today any country which is in trouble at the UN over abuses of
human rights can always rely on a Chinese veto in the Security Council. China
is the best friend of the military regime in Burma – one of the world’s most
oppressive regimes – and of Robert Mugabe’s bankrupt dictatorship in Zimbabwe.
Saint
Lucians have had the benefit of comparing the economic and social benefits
derived through diplomatic relations with Taiwan and China over the past fifteen
(15) years. I am convinced that the majority of Saint Lucians understands where
our nation’s best interest is provided for. Our people are all too aware that
the interest of our nation has been best served through diplomatic relations
with Taiwan and that ordinary Saint Lucians and communities have benefited
directly by far through the friendly relations and goodwill of the Taiwanese
Government over the past five (5) years under the Government of the United
Workers Party. The Taiwanese through their cooperation assistance have impacted
in a phenomenal way on our overall development process. Over the past five
years they have registered meaningful contributions to our nation’s development
in the health, agricultural, education and technology and sports sectors. In
addition they have brought direct benefits to thousands of Saint Lucians
through their “grass-roots projects” which included developments initiatives
such as: drainage,
footpaths, sidewalk, public facilities, bus shelters, community centers, multi-purpose
Courts, road and water Projects to highlight a few examples. The Taiwanese
contribution over the past five years under the United Workers Party
Administration by far outstrips that made by the Chinese over the ten years of
Labour Party rule between the period: 1997 – 2006.
It
is therefore critical and imperative at this time that Saint Lucians demand
that the Government of the Saint Lucia Labour Party adopts a foreign policy
position that is consistent with the will of the people of this country. Saint
Lucians must also maintain a vigilant stance in monitoring the foreign policy
direction of the current Government to ensure that the image of Saint Lucia as
a country which upholds democratic values along with the relationships with our
traditional friends is not compromised. The recent posturing of the Government
through alliances with the ALBA grouping is a cause for concern. Only recently the
Prime Minister of Grenada issued a call on regional Governments to focus their
efforts on strengthening Caricom instead of flirting with ALBA. Individual
members of that grouping and the grouping as a collective have taken some
positions recently which must be a cause for concern. We note for example Cuba
and Venezuela’s support for the regimes in Iran and Syria. Only recently
Venezuela shipped an estimated US $50. Million worth of diesel to Syria in a
show of defiance to the international community. Such support can no doubt be
used by the Assad regime to fuel the continuation of bloody attacks which the
regime has unleashed on its citizens whose only offence is to express their
will to be governed by a democratic political system.
One
is forced to question the silence of the current SLP Government or its failure
to condemn the atrocities being committed in Syria. Is our Government fearful
of offending the Chinese and its ALBA comrades? Are our humanitarian and
principled values being compromised on the altar of some strange political
ideology that is foreign to our culture and Christian traditions? These are
questions that should occupy the minds of curious Saint Lucians at this time. I
dare say that we Saint Lucians should remain vigilant and not allow our Government
to prostitute and damage our international reputation and image
internationally.
I
take this opportunity to calls on the Government of Saint Lucia to take the
necessary actions to remove the current anxiety of Saint Lucians and its
obvious procrastination on the issue of diplomatic relations with Taiwan or
China. The ultimate position of the current Administration should be guided by
the sentiments and will of the people of Saint Lucia in maintaining diplomatic
relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan.
By Clifton St Marthe
Editor's note: Pics inserted by blog management
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