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HOME	JANUARY 15th, 2005

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Police in Grenada are said to be closely watching out-spoken Baptist Religious Minister, Stanford Simon who is associated with the St. George's Baptist Church and One Call Construction Company.

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that a senior member of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) had recently visited a local FM radio station to try and obtain copies of some of the sermons preached by Simon.

Speculation is rife that the Special Branch of the police force has been given instructions to pay close attention to some of the sermons of Pastor Simon.
The preacher is known to have levelled heavy criticisms of politicians in the country over the manner in which they conduct themselves and especially the business of the State.

In his latest sermon preached on Sunday, Pastor Simon was extremely critical of moves being made by the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) regime to break ties with Taiwan in favour of communist Mainland China

He accused the Grenadian leader of engaging in "political prostitution" for trying to dump a "trusted friend" in favour of another country that had offered him more money for friendship. "It is immoral, it is wrong, it is political prostitution. We as a people should say so when it is wrong", he said.

In a recent radio address to the nation after an official trip to Beijing, Prime Minister Mitchell said he had worked out a substantial package with the communist leaders who consider Taiwan as a renegade province and not an independent country.

According to Pastor Simon, many Grenadians have been left "quite embarrassed" by the stand the Grenada government is now taking against the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan in favour of Mainland China. He said: "Here it is that you have a friend (Taiwan) for 15 years supporting you in good and bad times. Bad times come and the friend is still there supporting you, giving to you.

"And because you believe that the friend is not giving you enough (money), you turn from the friend of fifteen years and go to the other friend (China) that you believe will give you more", he added. The clergyman made mention of the tremendous contributions made by Taiwan to Grenada over the years in the areas of education and scholarships, as well as the promise of $40 million U.S dollars to help rebuild the damaged sporting stadium at queen's Park, St. George's.

"We know what we have as a country. Taiwan has been a friend to us for 15 years", he remarked. "Our Prime Minister takes the decision (to break up with Taiwan) and the excuse is that everybody else are with China so we should go and begin the process of dumping Taiwan", he said.

Pastor Simon chided Prime Minister Mitchell of trying to give the impression of being a "wise leader" but it is clear that the decision was a foolish one. "When our leaders.... Professing to be wise, they become foolish. To you who look at our leader (on the Taiwan issue), it looks foolish. People on the outside are looking on. Diplomatically, it looks foolish and to the world we no longer can be trusted as a country", he said.