St. Vincent Prime Minister arrives for independence

Independence Day is a time for citizens to celebrate…but for the government, it is also a convenient time to host foreign diplomats and engage in the art of making new friends and keeping old ones. This afternoon at Philip Goldson International Airport, two good friends of Belize arrived. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves attained office only last year, but has spent the better part of his life in politics. Like Prime Minister Said Musa, his early days were marked by a reputation for radicalism. News 5’s Stewart Krohn asked how that background squared with his new responsibilities, for example his government’s budding friendship with Taiwan.

Ralph Gonsalves, P.M., St. Vincent & the Grenadines

“We have had very fruitful relations with Taiwan since 1981, for twenty years. And it would be silly of us to take an ideological position on Taiwan. After all what is the ideological position of Beijing, the People’s Republic of China today? No, in foreign policy, I think that it would be wise to start with the dictum enunciated by Lord Palmerston in the middle of the 19th Century. He was the foreign secretary in Briton, when he said that “Briton has no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.” And we have found that relationship with Taiwan is one within our interests. And that is a way in which one has to be creative in this new globalised world.”

Stewart Krohn

“A number of observers in the Caribbean have looked at yourself and our own Prime Minister Said Musa in much of the same light. As two leaders from smaller countries and CARICOM, who seem to have a lot of intellectual gifts to offer. Do you feel a certain kinship with our Prime Minister Musa?”

Ralph Gonsalves

“I’ve known Said for a long time and he’s good friend of mine and he’s a fantastic leader, not only for Belize. I don’t want to get involved in Belizean politics, but I don’t think anybody would begrudge me, I don’t think even the opposition would deny that he is an outstanding leader. After all, you don’t become Prime Minister under the circumstances which he became Prime Minister without being an outstanding leader.”

Despite their longstanding friendship, this is Gonsalves’ first visit to Belize.