You have to be smart when dealing with Chinese businessmen – PM Gonsalves

Political leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Dr Ralph Gonsalves has asked questions about the recent trip to China by high ranking members of the opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) and that party’s decision to adopt the One China Policy.

Gonsalves, speaking at the ULP’s national convention on December 9 also asked the NDP to tell the public who paid for trip.

Travelling to China were former NDP president Arnhim Eustace; parliamentary representative for the Southern Grenadines Terrence Ollivierre; NDP Central Leeward candidate in the 2015 general elections Benjamin Exeter, and NDP president and Leader of the Opposition Dr Godwin Friday.

The NDP president said while in China, he and his delegation met with members of the China Zhi Gong Party and discussed the possibility of investments in SVG including teaming up with local entrepreneurs to invest in many sectors of the local economy.

But in his address at the ULP convention, Gonsalves, who is also Prime Minister, said when dealing with the Chinese, one has to be very smart because they are cunning businessmen.

He said when the government wanted to construct the West St George Government School, money was borrowed from the World Bank and several companies made bids.

He said one company from mainland China bid five million dollars lower than another company from China, while a regional company bid about $500,000 over the second Chinese company.

He said that the Chinese companies knew the whole process would take time, so the company that bid the lowest did that so that they could get the contract, then say that the process took too long and now it is ready, the price of construction has to go up.

Gonsalves said the strategy was, if the government and the World Bank did not want to accept the new bid, they would just move to the second company.

He said when investigations were carried out, it was found that the same people who bid the lowest also owned the Chinese company who bid the higher amount.

“They cunning, I not blaming them, but you hadda have street smarts to deal with that, so we started over the bid. Then the lowest one made an adjustment and that is how that was built,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister said, by his comments, the government is not saying anything against China, but the fact remains that we have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and they have been good to us.
“We have relations with mainland China, we work together at the Caribbean Development Bank, The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the group of 77 and China but we have diplomatic relations with Taiwan because we have had excellent relations with them since 1980 and we don’t intend to change those relations, because we find that they are productive for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“I ain’t pulling down mainland China but what I tell you, you have to be smart to deal with them.”

He added that at the moment, there are about 70 Vincentians studying in Taiwan and these things must be looked at.

“What going happen when you break relations and you establish with mainland China? What going happen to our 70 students? You going pay for them? Because the Taiwanese will say you don’t have any relations with us anymore take back you students.

“You see at any time you have a break in the relations these things happen, fool ah talk, but nah fool ah listen,” Gonsalves said.