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Delivery 8 p.m. December 20, 2004 Fellow citizens, it is my pleasure to address you this evening regarding my visit last week to the People’s Republic of China. Firstly, permit me to share with you my thoughts on the issue of foreign policy, in a general sense. The foreign policies of all governments, whether big or small, have always been determined on the basis of what is the highest good for the country, at any given point in time. The national interests of countries are long-term in nature, requiring leaders to envision the optimal welfare of their countries, not just for the immediate future but for periods that may span decades. Even in times of conflict, countries maintain relationships to enable activities to take place which may not necessarily be related to the particular conflict at hand. Accordingly, trade and economic activities can take place while countries negotiate resolutions to other types of conflicts. Travel to and from those countries is still maintained or encouraged. Similarly, cultural exchanges and other forms of sharing can be pursued. Sisters and brothers, in the life of a country, every now and then, there is need for deep review, and sometimes significant modifications to strategies, policies and priorities. Hurricane Ivan has not only devastated Grenada, but has pointed to the need for structural changes in our economy, in our education system, and our provision of social services, among others. Indeed, the system for providing housing, counseling, training opportunities for the unemployed and incentives for the business community, among other developmental areas, have all been adjusted to varying degrees since September 7. Similarly, Hurricane Ivan has also caused the need for your Government to review all areas associated with the sustainable development of our Country. This includes reviewing the role that foreign policy and foreign relations should play in the reconstruction of our Country. Our foreign policy and diplomatic relations must be strongly related to our reconstruction goals. The effectiveness of our relations with the international community must be informed by our reconstruction needs. I want to assure you, sisters and brothers, that the decision to travel to the People’s Republic of China was not taken lightly. In this regard, I must state publicly, that Grenada is and remains eternally grateful for all the assistance that we have received from friendly countries and understanding multinational agencies, including the Republic of China on Taiwan, particularly in this post-Ivan period. However, it is important that Grenada analyses and examines international trends and developments that can have significant impact on its economic, social and technical advancement. Such analyses are necessary to assure the best management practices and to secure smooth and continuous progress for Grenada into the future. Grenada’s foreign and diplomatic policies must also be consistent with these international trends. We are too small and too vulnerable to ignore such trends. In other words, sisters and brothers, we must be enlightened and alert about our long term national interests. The majority of countries of the world set these international trends, and they often point the way. The USA has diplomatic relations with mainland China, not with Taiwan; the United Kingdom has diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan; Canada has diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan; Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and all of our European friends have diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan. In the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago has diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan; Barbados has diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan; Jamaica has diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan. Indeed, most of our CARICOM partners have diplomatic relations with Mainland China, not with Taiwan. And, I can go on to include countries in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia and in most parts of the world. These countries have already led the way. Do we want our Country to be left behind? Should Grenada end up in a state of isolation from our other regional and international friends? Politically and diplomatically, it is in the long term best interest of Grenada to ensure that it does not become an isolated State within the polarized but wider global community. This has become all the more crucial, given the post-Ivan challenges that have left us considerably more vulnerable than we were before. The reconstruction and development of Grenada, therefore, is a long term challenge. Indeed, this challenge is facing all of us for many years to come. We have to think ahead. Short term vision, short term activities - while valuable - will not suffice. We must take the view that the next ten years will require us to ensure that our mix of international diplomatic friends is realistic and sustainable. We have no other choice! However, the development of friendship with one country does not, in itself, negate friendly relations with others. For example, Grenada has diplomatic ties with Cuba. We are also very good friends with the United States of America. Moreover, diplomatic relations with one country does not preclude economic, cultural and trade relations with any other country. Sisters and brothers, the just completed successful visit to Beijing and the ongoing negotiations were undertaken with a view to seeking help for Grenada to successfully address several of our developmental challenges in the post-Ivan years. And, fellow citizens, let us not fool ourselves. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan on the physical, economic and social life of Grenada has been so wide-spread and multi-dimensional, that it has reversed the last 20 years of progress and development achieved by this and previous administrations. Grenada is not a rich country, in terms of resources. We will need international help and major donations for a continuous and sustained period if our Country is to lift itself from the depressed and broken state in which Ivan has left us. The exercise of the visit to, and negotiations with, the People’s Republic of China is about a search for help to meet the needs of the Grenadian population. It is not a personal matter, as some have selfishly tried to suggest. It is about helping you the people, from all sections of the Nation. The two pledging Conferences we held in October and November; the United Nations Flash Appeal for help for Grenada; my many letters and phone calls to several Heads of State asking for financial and technical assistance, my overseas visits to Canada, to the USA, to Trinidad & Tobago, to Barbados and several Caribbean countries, to the UK, and now my visit to Beijing, were all aimed at seeking help to relieve the suffering, the discomfort and the hardships of our individual families throughout the length and breadth of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. All these initiatives have borne fruit, in varying amounts, to be applied to the needs of different sectors of our economy and to all parts of our beautiful Country. It is not about Keith Mitchell. It is about you, the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. I remember that some pundits were prepared, even before I visited the USA after Ivan, to say that I was wasting my time because the American Government would not help us, since they had disappointed us before. The result of that trip is now history, with some forty-two million US dollars in aid from the United States. I want to say again that we must always thank the Americans for this tremendous support they have given us in our greatest time of need. More of such initiatives and visits have to be undertaken in the near future. Everybody will benefit from the efforts of the Government. Even those who are loudest in condemnation of my actions and the Government’s actions will reap the benefits from my successful appeals and negotiations. The International Monetary Fund, in its report on the Pledging Conference in November here in St George's, you will recall, pointed out that promised donations so far would be enough to help fund our reconstruction programme in 2005 and most of 2006; but the Pledges are far short for 2007 and after. Grenada will need to seek and line up resources for much more in the future. Sisters and brothers, this Government is seeking to put Grenada in a better long term position. I am therefore pleased to report that in Beijing we successfully negotiated a package of assistance that will flow directly to various sectors of our economy and our Country, and will extend over the next five to six years. It is a significant package that we have negotiated and it will assist Grenada through a difficult period. The understanding between both sides is that, until the official signing, we cannot disclose the specific details. You’ve got to bear with me on this. We expect to do that soon. In fairness to, and out of regard for my responsibilities towards my Cabinet colleagues, I decided to return to consult them on certain aspects of the package. You would recall that on leaving the country for Beijing, our Official Statement outlined the purpose of the trip as follows:
I discussed these aspects with Cabinet members this morning. Following the Cabinet deliberations this morning, I expect that we would conclude the negotiations within a very short period of time. In keeping with the priorities of your Government, the assistance will be directed to Low Income Housing, Education, Agriculture, Health and Sports. Support will include:
(b) Hospital rebuilding efforts (c) Scholarships (d) Low Income Housing (e) Agricultural Resuscitation, and others I also take this opportunity to express appreciation to the other members of the delegation - Mr. Roy O’Neale, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for Cricket World Cup 2007, Mr. Ian DaBreo and Ms. Sheree-Ann Adams of the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Organisation, Dr. Bert Brathwaite, Acting Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Errol Maitland, media entrepreneur, and Mr. Selwin Noel, Director of Information. Ladies and gentlemen, sisters and brothers all, we broke new ground during the visit to Beijing. Furthermore, sisters and brothers, on the matter of diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan, I would prefer not to ventilate certain facts in public. It is sufficient to say that His Excellency the Ambassador of Taiwan, as well as senior Government Officials in Taipei, know very well the truth of the relationship during the past few years. Since the current Government in Taipei came in to power, I have had occasion to complain to diplomatic personnel here in Grenada, as well as to high level personnel in Taipei, at both Ministerial and Officials levels. These complaints focused on our dissatisfaction with the attitudes and relations Grenada has been experiencing at the hands of the present Taiwanese Government personnel, both in Taipei as well as from the local representatives. The way the relationship was being managed is a source of grave concern to us here in Grenada. Many of our Government Ministers, during various visits to Taiwan, in recent times under the new Government, have raised the matter of our dissatisfaction with the highest officials and Ministerial contacts. I had also taken the liberty to ask some Ministers and Diplomats of friendly countries to speak to the Taiwanese on our behalf, and that has been done for the last one and a half years. The feed back we had from these diplomatic initiatives and behind-the-scenes approaches led us to the conclusion that Grenada was no longer important to Taiwan. Some six months or so ago, therefore, I informed the local Representatives of Taiwan that I had opened certain channels of communications with the People's Republic of China, and that certain emissaries had been sent to initiate discussions. If they did not take me seriously, I cannot be blamed for this. Following Ivan, the Government of the People's Republic of China extended the hands of assistance to Grenada. This was done, notwithstanding the fact that they have no formal relations with Grenada. Subsequently, the Government of China through an Emissary, asked for us to pay an Official visit to China. We considered this at length, before we decided. Moreover, before embarking on the move to visit Beijing, I also held discussions with several friendly governments, inside and outside of the Caribbean, of my intended decision to undertake this visit. In addition, before embarking on the visit, I wrote to the Premier of Taiwan to advise him that I would be going on the visit to Beijing in the context of our reconstruction efforts and to also review our international relations. Sisters and brothers, I reveal some of these facts to make it clear that Grenada has acted very honourably and transparently with the ROC on Taiwan. I have also been very transparent with the local Ambassador, and have had multiple conversations with the Ambassador on this important matter. In all our dealings with Taiwan, this Government has been very open, honest and frank. We have done nothing behind their backs. We have kept them abreast of all our activities. All our dealings have been handled in a private, confidential and diplomatic manner. Sisters and brothers, your Government is not angry with Taiwan. Yes, we have been frustrated, recognising the relations that existed before this Government came into Office in Taiwan. We have been disappointed. But, we are not angry. In the world of diplomacy one does not become angry. One simply pursues the interests of the Country at a given time. In our most recent communications with the ROC, we have reiterated Grenada’s desire to maintain economic, trade and cultural relations, if necessary, at a representative level. In any event, the decision to engage with the People’s Republic of China was not determined so much by any change in the policy of the Government of the ROC as a priority. It was determined by the overwhelming need to adjust to the international and diplomatic realities of today’s world, and to place Grenada in a more secure environment as we embark on the long road to recovery of our Country. Sisters and brothers, I have also noted the language used in some local - and I use the word ‘some’ - media in condemning the Beijing initiative. The best thing I could say about this is that the condemnations have been nasty. But they also lacked any serious content of wisdom, diplomatic good sense or a vision of reconstruction for the Nation. I leave that there for the time being.
I simply ask all concerned and you the people of this Country the following: Sisters and brothers, the answer to the above three questions is as resounding YES. In closing, sisters and brothers, I wish to assure you that in the heavy task ahead we need to explore new grounds for the Country. I believe that the new grounds we explored last week in Beijing will bring major benefits to this Country - in very significant ways - and will allow us to collectively and individually build back this Country better. Thank you and good evening. |
