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HOME	JANUARY 29th, 2005

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Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt has thrown his support behind his Grenadian counterpart Dr. Keith Mitchell who is under pressure at home over a decision to switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan to mainland China.

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing announced last week that Grenada has re-established diplomatic relations with China in a move that will require this country to end its 15 year old ties with the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan.

Besides Dominica, Beijing also has diplomatic relations with St. Lucia and a non-resident Ambassador in Antigua. Taiwan on the other hand still enjoys close ties with St. Kitts/Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Skeritt addressed the Mainland China/Grenada issue while in St. George's for a meeting between OECS Heads and President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn. The Dominican leader told reporters that every government is faced with challenges put forward by its citizens and so the onus now lies with the leader to meet that challenge in the best interest of the people of that country.

Saying that he is satisfied with the decision made last year by Dominica to switch ties to Beijing, Skeritt spoke of the benefits that have been derived from that relationship. He pointed out that his island was the recipients of $US 7 million thus far and that work will begin in March on the construction of a national stadium for the country.

According to Skeritt, his government has already spent the money on several areas of development and they are expecting more assistance in the immediate future from Mainland China.

The Dominican leader pointed out that his country is looking toward strengthening and deepening the relationship with Beijing. "I think what your Prime Minister has done in Grenada is a decision for the people and we have to look at the long term benefits from that particular decision", he said.

Prime Minister Skeritt insisted that Dr. Mitchell made the right move and it is now left up to Grenada to determine how it is going to respond to the challenges presently faced as a result of the damages caused by Hurricane Ivan in September.

He said that Grenada now has to look at the long term relationship, adding that the world cannot pretend that China does not exist. "China is a growing super power and so we must align ourselves with countries that are going to help us and our people", he remarked.

Prime Minister Skeritt insisted that the region must look for long term benefits and appealed to Grenadians to put their national interests before any individual agenda.

Prime Minister Mitchell has been under fire for the manner in which he dumped Taiwan for Mainland China after the ROC had given generous aid to the Spice Island for the past 15 years.